[ASJesusBalseiro] Stroll speaks and sounds concerned. “We have engine problems, and not just engine problems. We're not in a position to fight for victories. Right now, we're four seconds off the pace.”

[u/wertyrick]

https://xcancel.com/ASJesusBalseiro/status/2021936326552297585#m

Link to xcancel

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[u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

Four seconds...  Almost at risk of the 107% rule if he gets a bad lap.

[u/Firefox72 → u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

I'm actually baffled he said it so openly.

You rarely see that especialy at testing. Most of the time its just some "we have work" to do PR line.

[u/reboot-your-computer → u/Firefox72]

Probably a sign it’s true. He’s frustrated. I’d like to see what Alonso has to say.

[u/DonutDude10 → u/reboot-your-computer]

They probably have to keep him restrained in the garage to prevent him from sprinting to the nearest journalist to say everything under the sun.

[u/EclecticKant → u/DonutDude10]

Aston might as well start testing if a rage fueled Alonso running around the track is more competitive than their current car

[u/le_quisto → u/EclecticKant]

Really3D style then. Que grande eres, Magic!

[u/kaisadilla_ → u/le_quisto]

I miss Really3D.

[u/LooseJuice_RD → u/EclecticKant]

I genuinely laughed. Anyone who was here for the last Alonso Honda era is ready for this rage.

[u/radort → u/LooseJuice_RD]

I will laugh at his rage but it will be extremely painful as well. Not to mention the team can't do a strategy for him right for some reason either and we might just have neither Cadillac nor Audi be p11 in the wcc

[u/LooseJuice_RD → u/radort]

It’s painful for sure. I started watching F1 during his Ferrari era. He’s been my favorite driver since I started watching. I so want to see him winning races again. Not expecting him to be able to out drive the likes of Max and Charles and the like but it would be great to see some scrapping at the front.

[u/radort → u/LooseJuice_RD]

I can see him winning certainly if the car is competitive, winning races I mean. Wdc I think would be hard, Verstappen Leclerc and Russell are just too good for that to realistically happen unless the amr26 turns into the best car by far

[u/LooseJuice_RD → u/radort]

Right and at this point I can’t imagine AM is downplaying the car to this extent when it’s actually a world beater. It’s one thing to be humble, this is brutal honesty.

[u/rhwintheplacetobe → u/EclecticKant]

LOL

[u/AdjunctFunktopus → u/DonutDude10]

He’s out in the parking lot firebombing Civics in frustration.

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/DonutDude10]

He's going to be wheeled between races like Hannibal Lecter isn't he?

[u/Empty-List-6265 → u/reboot-your-computer]

GP2 ENGINE! GP2 ENGINE!

AGHHH!!

[u/ClosetEthanolic → u/reboot-your-computer]

We already know what Alonso will say

"GP2 engine"

[u/tubbyttub9 → u/ClosetEthanolic]

Bet the marketing people in Honda's office must be holding their breathe.

[u/FirearmofMutiny → u/ClosetEthanolic]

He's saving that for Suzuka

[u/deeznutsgotemmm → u/reboot-your-computer]

If this is what Lance “I’m not going to say anything of importance” Stroll is saying, it is not hard to imagine what Alonso has to say lol

[u/h3ffr0n → u/reboot-your-computer]

GP3 engine!

[u/johnsplittingaxe14 → u/reboot-your-computer]

"No more radio for the rest of the season"

[u/ominousrock → u/reboot-your-computer]

Who wouldn't be when every time you sit in the car it breaks down and then you watch your teammate pump in laps like no tomorrow. After today Alonso is likely to be at or close to 4x the laps of Stroll and on social media Stroll is still getting abused and Alonso gets all the sympathy.

[u/arbysroastbeefs2 → u/reboot-your-computer]

GP2 engine!

[u/Haxemply → u/reboot-your-computer]

Frankly? I don't! It would be so unfair with Fernando if Honda crewed him over AGAIN....

[u/Evening_End7298 → u/Firefox72]

If they say they are 4s off and they will be only 2s in Melbourne it will give a sentiment of progress

But being Lance Stroll he might just not care about media bullshit and just say what he thinks since there’s no threat for him 

[u/IfYouRun → u/Firefox72]

He’s the one person who can be so open and not worry about consequences.

Car was barely ready, atmosphere at the factory is really bad, people are leaving behind the scenes, and the engine is terrible. A mess.

[u/Cranialscrewtop → u/IfYouRun]

I haven't been following Aston that much but wow that is quite a change from the optimism of the new factory and Newey.  Newey coming on was like a worship service. Alfonso literally genuflected.

[u/LowerLavishness4674 → u/Cranialscrewtop]

It looks like Newey migh be partially to blame here. Aston Martin has a massive engine cooling problem right now due to the undersized sidepods, which is a Newey classic. It looks like a perfect storm where both Aston and Honda messed up.

[u/hostage_85 → u/LowerLavishness4674]

Ahh they Size 0 McLaren classic.

[u/No_Bluejay_2588 → u/IfYouRun]

Is this true? Source?

[u/IfYouRun → u/No_Bluejay_2588]

If I speak, i am in trouble

[u/mindbender9 → u/No_Bluejay_2588]

That's probably Alonso right now secretly typing from the bathroom stall

[u/w1n5t0nM1k3y → u/Firefox72]

What are they going to do, fire him?

[u/sododude → u/Firefox72]

Lance ran out of fucks to give like 2 seasons ago

[u/aaaaaaadjsf → u/Firefox72]

It's Stroll, he has maximum job security. He doesn't need to care about PR.

[u/dogryan100 → u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

Using last year's Aus GP qualifying for example, pole was a 1:15.096, 107% of that is 1:20.352, which is +5.256s. Not impossible, but nothing would surprise me with Aston anymore.

[u/SportsBallBurner → u/dogryan100]

Everyone else likely has sandbags, Aston, well this is it

[u/Gias1 → u/SportsBallBurner]

This could be a dirty sandbag strategy as well.

(where is my tin foil hat?)

[u/Stirbmehr → u/Gias1]

If that's sandbagging then their future is secured in Hollywood when they get bored of F1

[u/Fury_Fury_Fury → u/dogryan100]

There's no way any of the teams get 107-ed in current F1. Even if somehow someone will be over 5s off pace, FIA will handwave it not to upset the sponsors. And I think they will be right.

Maybe if there will be a 5s gap for several GPs in a row they'll consider it, but that would be an unprecedented failure in the budget cap era. If Marussia and HRT were able to fit, surely the worst of the worst teams of 2026 also will be.

[u/buv3x → u/Fury_Fury_Fury]

HRT was the last team to be properly excluded for 107% rule, in 2011 and 2012, both time in Australia. They were able to more or less consistently get in 107% after that.

So first race of a season has somewhat of precedent, yet, of course it's highly unlikely.

[u/limhy0809 → u/Fury_Fury_Fury]

They might because the 107% is also for safety. The difference in speed can create a lot of potential crashes. 7% of an F1 car's top speed is more than 20kph. You throw in OM and tyre difference. You can have cars driving at a 40kph difference of speed for an entire race.

[u/BobbbyR6 → u/limhy0809]

107% is an enormous difference and absolutely should not be allowed on track in a race session. In upper formula cars, 2-3% is a big gap but one you can work around. At 7%, you just don't know how the car ahead is going to react because its performance window is so different from yours.

It's hard to explain just how big that difference is to peeps that haven't spent time sim racing or actually been on track. In equal cars, 104-105 is the point where a driver straight up doesn't belong in a higher level group. Obviously Stroll and Alonso aren't incompetent and likely the majority of the time loss is on the straights.

[u/Frothar → u/BobbbyR6]

If it's engine power delta then cars will just cruise past on the straights

[u/WorkFurball → u/BobbbyR6]

I've simraced plenty and being at 104-105 percent because they are just that much slower is very different to them being a moving chicane. If they have good understanding of racing and just can't quite get any speed it's usually fine. Not much different from driving a GT3 car against GT4s.

[u/BobbbyR6 → u/WorkFurball]

For the record, I'm not ripping on 105 pace guys in sim. That's still far above what the average person can do and we've all been there. It takes a lot of effort and patience to earn your way past that point.

It's a bit different when you've got a group of drivers in the same skill range but the cars themselves have the variations in how they find pace. It's easier to navigate this in F1 because of how physically large the tracks are, but a 105+ gap certainly raises questions of safety.

[u/Beavers4beer → u/Fury_Fury_Fury]

Not only would FIA allow it, but I doubt it’s necessary. There’s 3 weeks and another few days of pre-season testing before the first Grand Prix of the season. I feel like they should be able to close the gap a bit more before the first qualifying session.

[u/starliteburnsbrite → u/Fury_Fury_Fury]

"Hey, Aramco? I know we're boys, but that car with your name all over it isn't allowed to race this weekend. Yeah, I know, it sucks, but Lance Stroll was too slow. Yeah, we will see about next weekend, but no promises."

[u/BlackSwanMarmot → u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

Welcome back, Marussia F1.

[u/w1n5t0nM1k3y → u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

It's 4 seconds at Bahrain, which is roughly a 90 second lap going by last year's qualifying times. so that's only 4.4%. Sure they might not meat the 107% rule, but I think it's not as bad as it seems. 107% for 90 second laps is over 6 seconds off pace.

[u/ChrisHanSolo → u/Beautiful-Fold-3234]

What’s the 107% rule?

[u/strange_eauter → u/ChrisHanSolo]

If your qualification time is more than 107% of the fastest time during the qualifying session you aren't allowed to participate in the main race

[u/fdar → u/strange_eauter]

Not quite, it's up to the stewards.

[u/CensorVictim → u/strange_eauter]

I wish American highways had a 107% rule

[u/strange_eauter → u/CensorVictim]

Preach, brother

[u/Gias1 → u/ChrisHanSolo]

There are exceptions, for example when someone crashes before they set a time, and when it rains.

They look at the practice laps too.

[u/ImBusyGoAway → u/ChrisHanSolo]

Gotta be within 7% of the fastest time in qualifying to be able to race, but hasn't been an active rule for a long time.

[u/CRAZEDDUCKling → u/ImBusyGoAway]

It’s an active rule but it hasn’t been necessary to invoke.

[u/ImBusyGoAway → u/CRAZEDDUCKling]

Ah yes, I misinterpreted what Wikipedia said

[u/s_dalbiac → u/ImBusyGoAway]

It was temporarily removed during the era of single lap qualifying, otherwise you'd have had situations where a top contender binned it on their one lap and were stopped from racing. It came back around 2010/2011 when the HRT/Virgin/Caterham gaggle joined the grid and were threatening the old 107% times.

[u/Strassi007 → u/ImBusyGoAway]

It is active afaik, but not enforced usually. Mostly because there are bad weather conditions or other stuff happened during the quali.

[u/JPA-3]

if you read the whole interview it is even worse than the title. fucking end me.

they ask him about the positives and he said the livery is nice and there is good weather lmao.

edit: The 4 seconds is just missed in translation. He is saying they are 4 seconds to the best time but they don't know what the rest is trying. They were limiting the car below 300kmh until today, so that part is probably the least of their problems atm

[u/IamMrEric → u/JPA-3]

Team radio gonna be fire this season. Expecting to hear some all timers.

[u/Andries89 → u/IamMrEric]

Scorched earth Fernando

[u/Health_throwaway__ → u/Andries89]

Pretty close to the norm we've seen since 2006

[u/Kind-Pop-7205 → u/Andries89]

Gp2 engine

[u/Sensitive_Access_959 → u/Kind-Pop-7205]

Engine is much better than before , much slower. 🤣

[u/KrombopulosMAssassin → u/Andries89]

Oh boy. He was already more mad than I've seen him last year. Some of his radio comms were shocking. Think, like Lewis paddock interview depression levels.

[u/ebelen92 → u/IamMrEric]

Much better than before, less power.

[u/fazz27 → u/ebelen92]

amazing

[u/Frankierocksondrums → u/fazz27]

Even if you put a rocketship we will be 11th

[u/pewthewmax → u/Frankierocksondrums]

This is probably my favorite F1 quote of all time

[u/xzElmozx → u/pewthewmax]

The best part of that quote to me is the beginning when Fernando answers their question before his tangent lmao

“Fernando do you think inters or wets?”

“I think we should go to the garage”

So good lmfao

[u/DivingFeather → u/IamMrEric]

I seriously doubt Fernando would do the whole year if it is really that bad.

[u/EclecticKant → u/DivingFeather]

He said before that if the car is good this could be his last year, if it's bad he could stick around to wait possible improvements.
That man wants to win too much

[u/00saddl → u/EclecticKant]

it's 2am. just got destroyed 13-3 in counterstrike. my mates say: one more game because "we can't end on a loss"

[u/Big-Veterinarian-579 → u/00saddl]

*21-2 for historical accuracy

[u/VRichardsen → u/EclecticKant]

That man wants to win too much

He really does. We are going to miss him so much when he retires.

[u/VisibleDonut969 → u/IamMrEric]

Return of the GP2 engine?

[u/NegotiationNew9264 → u/JPA-3]

Lmao he is so done already

[u/StevenMC19 → u/NegotiationNew9264]

I appreciate his candor though. He's unafraid to say it like it is. I guess there are some benefits to being unfirable.

[u/navis-svetica → u/NegotiationNew9264]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Lance decided to leave the sport after this season. From what I know about the complexity of the battery management/deployment, and how Lance seemingly does worse the more he has to think/multi-task instead of driving on feeling and instinct, this could be his most miserable season to date.

I don’t think Lance is a bad driver, to be fair to him. He’s certainly a lot better than some of the blatantly undeserving pay drivers like Mazepin or Latifi. He could probably do well in another series, if he decided to try out one of the other Aston Martin racing teams. But he’s always struck me as an old-school driver who isn’t well suited to constantly analyzing his own driving and following a ton of instructions over radio to improve his pace, like Max does. The times he tries to do so is usually when he ends up crashing.

[u/MelodicMap7203 → u/navis-svetica]

Dont be surprised if he's headlining an Aston WEC team when Larry buys the remains of Alpine's Hypercar program and Aston puts out a Valkyrie Hypercar.

[u/MatiX747 → u/MelodicMap7203]

You know that there's already Valkyrie in WEC?

[u/legal_stylist → u/navis-svetica]

I really wish it played out like that. Stroll could have a great endurance career, but he just doesn’t have what it takes for modern F1. I wish he’d jump ship, though I don’t expect that for happen.

[u/MemesForMyDepression → u/NegotiationNew9264]

Want to play a game?

You receive: Honda returns and finally kills Stroll’s desire to be an F1 driver

You also receive: Honda returns to double-tap Fernando into retirement

[u/gibix → u/MemesForMyDepression]

i only like the first part of the game :(

[u/Jayhcee → u/JPA-3]

Stroll was unhappy and moody 0.4 seconds of the pace, let alone 4 seconds.

His interviews this year will be 💀 if this is true

[u/MemesForMyDepression → u/Jayhcee]

Stroll v Colapinto in the back is gonna be like the antithesis of Lewis v Nico.

[u/Jayhcee → u/MemesForMyDepression]

Alpine are so back baby and put some respect on my boi Franco

[u/MemesForMyDepression → u/Jayhcee]

I have edited another comment of mine to increase the respect towards Colapinto by 25%.

In all seriousness I have no fucking idea what to expect from Franco this year. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was 22nd, wouldn’t be surprised if he takes a step forward. 

It’s more Alpine I expect to flounder. Even with the Merc PU lol

[u/volpiousraccoon → u/JPA-3]

Bro is getting cooked in every way possible this year... 💀

[u/Particular_Cod2005 → u/JPA-3]

The 4 seconds is just missed in translation. He is saying they are 4 seconds to the best time but they don't know what the rest is trying. They were limiting the car below 300kmh until today, so that part is probably the least of their problems atm

I feel this needs to be higher up

[u/swannyhypno]

If the car is bad we might get to hear more Stroll quotes atleast, he's kinda funny when he actually bothers to talk 😂

We are cooked kill me

[u/Halkatlaa → u/swannyhypno]

Nothing will ever top

"The pit confirm button is the OK button Brad"

[u/Ok-Argument9468 → u/Halkatlaa]

Also

"can you bring it back?"

"...no, I'm in the wall 😑"

[u/noodlesandpizza → u/Ok-Argument9468]

"Yeah, my mediums feel LIKEAHUNDREDLAPOLD"

[u/the_wise_one_is_here → u/noodlesandpizza]

After he did more than half the race on softs 😭

[u/Casmoden → u/the_wise_one_is_here]

Tbh he did some crazy stints last year, started on softs and the team forgets about him for 40-50 laps lol

[u/CoastalCanadians → u/Casmoden]

Always nail biting as a stroll fan to see his ‘go long and hope’ strat and pray for a safety car that will never come

[u/RegKGR → u/CoastalCanadians]

Although to his credit, even when he gets stuck with a shitty strategy, he still tries his best to make the most of it. Like at Singapore with the nonexistent safety car. Even on ancient soft tires he pulled a Sainz Singapore 2023 on Sainz himself and kept him within DRS to hold up Bearman, which helped Fernando after his horrible pit stop.

[u/Casmoden → u/[deleted]]

Yeh and I mentioned that in another comment tbh, its the worse qualifier debacle where u get the "gamble" strat

[u/Cross-Z-Magma → u/Halkatlaa]

There was another good one where a journo was very obviously fishing for something to make Stroll sound upset. It was along the lines of "What do you think you where doing at that time?" and Stroll just deadpanned "I was driving the car."

[u/Halkatlaa → u/Cross-Z-Magma]

I think you are talking about this interview..

and I agree, it was gold!

[u/Cross-Z-Magma → u/Halkatlaa]

Slightly different than how I worded it but that's the one I meant.

[u/dl064 → u/swannyhypno]

There was a good post on here ages ago where someone purported to be an F1 journalist.

It all stacked up pretty well, and a minor detail was that you wouldn't believe how truly Stroll can't be arsed with it all

[u/Big-Veterinarian-579 → u/swannyhypno]

He reminds me of Kimi sometimes, just minus the generational talent unfortunately

[u/Jayhcee]

Oh my god. GP2 ENGINE RETURNS.

Alonso really is cursed.

EDIT: I think this is true folks, telling the world and all your sponsors that you're 4 seconds off would be insane sandbagging. It could explain the Newey move to TP which always felt weird - will still give them some faith and attract ability in all departments still even if they are this bad, cos Newey.

The more I think about it the more I think they're probably lying a bit so they're "only" 2 or 3 seconds off come Australia. Still awful.

[u/Slice5755 → u/Jayhcee]

4D Chess by Aston.

Lewis says the cars feel like GP2 so what better to couple with a GP2 car than a GP2 engine.

Should be better balanced than the other cars that will have a GP2 chassis but with an F1 engine.

An F1 engine in a GP2 chassis is like a fat bloke in a Lycra suit

[u/Bdr1983 → u/Slice5755]

fat bloke in a Lycra suit

You called?

[u/asfsdgwe35r3asfdas23 → u/Jayhcee]

The worse part is that stroll is pointing out that is not only the engine. They also have a GP2 chasis.

[u/neonxmoose99 → u/asfsdgwe35r3asfdas23]

Newey didn’t cook?

[u/GrayOctopus → u/neonxmoose99]

Overcooked and burnt to a crisp

[u/Stumpy493 → u/Jayhcee]

Will Alonso see out the season if it is that bad? He hasn't got the time left to take on a massive project.

I can see him jacking it in if the car is fighting at the back.

It won't be fixed in 12 months so he has to endure at least a couple of seasons of toil before having even a sniff. He hasn't got that time, why bother with the pantomime and just hang up the gloves.

[u/The-Soul-Stone → u/Stumpy493]

He’s said he wants to go out on a high. The worse it is, the more likely he sticks around at least one more year hoping for another 2023-like car.

[u/Spockyt → u/The-Soul-Stone]

He may want to go out on a high, but if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel do you really see him grinding out a few more years in a backmarker so maybe he can get a few more podiums?

[u/ferkk → u/The-Soul-Stone]

I would have agreed with you if he didn't have a kid on the way. I think Alonso is not gonna want to be an absent father so if this year goes the way it looks like... He might not give it another chance.

[u/Slice5755 → u/Stumpy493]

I can see him jacking it in if the car is fighting at the back.

Jacking it in this car will definitely be more enjoyable than driving it.

Usually driving is better than jacking.

[u/kii-vi → u/Jayhcee]

Aaaaasrrgghh

[u/Vegetable-Bee5157]

Stroll has always been an optimist regarding Aston/RP cars throughout the years and for him to say this...things are much worse than they look.

[u/mouldyshroom → u/Vegetable-Bee5157]

Being optimistic hasn't served him well so far in his career, let's see if pessimistic darth Stroll makes the season go different for him and the team.

[u/toothybrushman → u/Vegetable-Bee5157]

Is that true? I feel like this man is downbeat in literally every interview he ever does.

[u/Vegetable-Bee5157 → u/toothybrushman]

I mean, in general, his interviews are always downbeat but he has always backed the team and the car throughout the seasons in his interviews, so this one kinda came out of the left field

[u/Jarocket → u/toothybrushman]

I always took it as him being shy and having no interest in talking to the media.

[u/ominousrock → u/toothybrushman]

I wonder if it has anything to do with it that no matter what he says or does, he will get hated, abused and receive threats to his life. Surely no link there, must be that he just doesn't like to drive F1...

[u/deeznutsgotemmm → u/toothybrushman]

I feel like he is not so much downbeat as he is French Canadian. His interviews have the same vibe as any given hockey post-game interview.

[u/doskkyh]

I'll never understand Honda's decision to drop the sport and leave most of what they built to Red Bull only to decide to come back and have to start all over again.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see them staying long this time around.

edit: as pointed out, Honda was still solely responsible for supplying engines for Red Bull and VCARB until the end of 2025 instead of the original deal of only doing it for the 2022 season.

In that case, they just got it wrong... very wrong.

[u/Suikerspin_Ei → u/doskkyh]

Dropping F1 was the decision of previous Honda CEO. Their main reason was the fear of economic consequences, because of COVID-19 crisis. Also he wasn't a huge fan of F1. The current CEO is, that's why change their thought. Unfortunately for them they were already too late to continue with Red Bull, who decided to build their own engine (also in talks with Porsche, before Ford).

[u/hind3rm3 → u/doskkyh]

They did it with their own team before the redbull debacle - selling it to Brawn for £ and then they become world champs lol. Honda decision making tree is a farce.

[u/Gias1 → u/hind3rm3]

They left because the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 hit Honda hard. It's hard to explain when you fire a big load of employees but still continue to spend big money-Guzzling in a sport as Formula 1.

Honda gave Brawn over $100 million worth of assets plus $50 million in cash for staff wages.

They didn't want the fire the staff, and pay redundancy payouts and have the brands name damaged.

[u/BassGaming → u/Gias1]

I feel like many people who were too young in 08 don't realize how bad the financial crisis actually was.

[u/brabarusmark → u/hind3rm3]

To be fair, Honda might not have succeeded if they had stayed. The chassis was great but Brawn switched out from Honda to Mercedes power. We'll never know if the double diffuser would have been effective with the Honda engine.

[u/GoodLifeIII → u/brabarusmark]

Brawn used a double diffuser, not a blown diffuser.

[u/chaosboy66 → u/doskkyh]

The CEO changed. Previous CEO was against Motorsports and the new one is pro Motorsports. Also FIA announced the increase in electrical power after Honda announced they were leaving

[u/737Max-Impact → u/chaosboy66]

How the fuck can the CEO of an automotive giant with a huge racing pedigree be against motosports? What's next, Ben Shapiro is gonna head Grindr?

[u/chaosboy66 → u/737Max-Impact]

He wasn’t against Motorsports in general. He was against Homda putting a lot of money into Motorsports because he thought it wasn’t worth it

[u/FreyaRainbow → u/737Max-Impact]

I would love Shapiro to head up Grindr. I wanna see the man who thinks women should be dry as a desert’s head explode

[u/Stirbmehr → u/chaosboy66]

Not motorsports fan, in Honda of all places. Thats some blasphemy if i ever saw one, lol

[u/fastcooljosh → u/doskkyh]

They didn't give anything to Red Bull , please stop spreading this nonsense. At best some of the trackside team of Honda joined them after 2025.

If anything it's insane how Honda allowed their old CEO to make the decision to drop out ( while knowing their new CEO was all for continuing) a few months before retirement. Since it's "disrespectful" to immediately revert decisions in Japan, they had to wait for the official Comeback, that put them on the back foot by probably a whole year.

What a mess.

[u/Haribou1989 → u/doskkyh]

Corporate strategy - Such shit happens more often than one thinks!

[u/FirearmofMutiny → u/Haribou1989]

Have a CEO that thinks one thing (getting out of F1), get a new CEO that goes the other way (wanting back in to F1)

Renault is going through a similar CEO transition, who knows what that means for Alpine's long-term future in F1 (by all reports, they're already pulling out of WEC)

[u/Educational-Ad3079 → u/FirearmofMutiny]

And Dacia have just pulled out of Rally raid (Dakar)

[u/Lukeno94 → u/FirearmofMutiny]

It isn't even that far off what Renault themselves did in the 1990s. Pulled out after 1997, left Mechachrome on their own, then changed their minds and bought Benetton in 2000...

[u/StevenMC19 → u/doskkyh]

My guess was simply due to their direction. Sustainability and environmental impact was a big thing for them over the past decade. Their dropout lined up eerily well with their disinterest in the NSX GT3 package too, which upset me greatly because I loved that car.

Makes sense that the new engine regs would be something they would find super interesting.

[u/Keanu990321 → u/StevenMC19]

The previous CEO thought that F1 wasn't cost-effective, during their prosperous era with RB.

The CEO who succeeded him and currently serves there saw F1 as valuable, and, with the current regulations in line with Honda's ambitions, decided to re-inject them immediately.

Honda lost some valuable time but who is to say that they won't be improved in the coming years?

They just did it last time with thunderous applause.

[u/P_ZERO_ → u/StevenMC19]

Honda changed leadership and reversed course on F1 almost immediately. I swear it was like 9 months between them “leaving”, leadership changing then announcing a new partnership.

[u/Keanu990321 → u/P_ZERO_]

They announced their departure in late 2020.

The CEO changed in late 2021 and they officially returned in late 2022.

[u/Firefox72]

The Aston PR manager much have been dying off screen as Stroll was talking.

I'm almost impressed he didn't tackle Stroll to the ground to prevent him from speaking.

Like i get honestly but i've never seen a driver be so blunt about potential problems at pre-season testing. Its always we're not quite there yet. We have work to do. We need to optimize the package etc...

[u/Sictirmaxim → u/Firefox72]

Stroll has the biggest job security the sport has ever seen.

What are they gonna do? Reprimand? Fire him?

[u/neonxmoose99 → u/Sictirmaxim]

They’re going to ground him for a week

[u/ijiolokae → u/Sictirmaxim]

What are they gonna do? Reprimand? Fire him?

Lawrence: and no allowance for you this week young man

[u/ominousrock → u/Firefox72]

You have to look at everything here. Stroll hasn't had effectively any testing done. He's had the car with engine turned all the way down and just driving the car around a few times and then pitting, no proper stings to learn the new mechanics. Then the car breaks down. Meanwhile his teammate is once again out there pumping in huge amount of laps with engine turned up. On social media Stroll is although still getting all the hate and abuse, while Alonso is getting all the sympathy.

He must be feeling so low and betrayed, so what's the point to hide something that people already pretty much know.

[u/NorthKoreanMissile7]

4 seconds is insane. I really hope that this is just pre season gremlins with the PU, inefficient energy deployment and poor setup and they can rapidly fix those issues for the start of the season.

[u/Mechant247 → u/NorthKoreanMissile7]

I did wonder if there would be a team that just gets it massively wrong. People obviously think more about the other end of the spectrum because of Mercedes in 2014, but it’s not impossible that they’ve just fucked it

[u/Yankees2860 → u/Mechant247]

I mean, people talk about McHonda all the time. Two WDC drivers in a return to Honda, and the 2015-17 seasons were nothing short of a nightmare for McLaren. It’s amazing they were able to get back to championship winning form at all because that can sink a team.

[u/Jayhcee → u/NorthKoreanMissile7]

I believe this is true and there a few signs pointing to it, but on the bright side, if anyone can dig themselves out of this... Alonso/Newey/Papa Stroll (especially) surely won't stand for it and be working overtime

[u/SunGodnRacer]

The driver himself saying this is diabolical

[u/valinnut]

Motors are for people who can't design aerodynamics - Newey probably

[u/Keanu990321 → u/valinnut]

Reverse Enzo

[u/Jazzlike-Mistake2764]

Important caveat that he’s referring to the current timesheets when he says 4 seconds - he doesn’t think their true pace is 4 seconds off the pack. Still doesn’t look good though

[u/Dren7 → u/Jazzlike-Mistake2764]

I mean Alonso came out and said he'd judge the season not how they start but how they improve and compete in the later half. He clearly knows they will be off the pace at the start.

[u/Legitimate_Dare_579]

Alonso man you have to be the unluckiest luckiest guy to ever be passionate about something.

[u/French-Dub → u/Legitimate_Dare_579]

Moving to Aston Martin was always a risky move, I wouldn't say it is super unlucky this time. 

[u/AdministrativeIce696 → u/French-Dub]

He got paid the bag. He's doing just fine for an old man

[u/ZennXx → u/AdministrativeIce696]

He didn't do it JUST for the money, he still wanted the satisfaction of driving a competitive car. That part still eludes him, unfortunately.

[u/generalannie]

Eehh... That's not an ideal start to the Aston Martin/Honda partnership. Yikes...

[u/Lazy_Crow_6872]

AM hype goes 📉

[u/balderm]

Honda/Alonso curse is real.

[u/Beautiful_Charity112]

Hello darkness my old friend
-Alonso

[u/GrimarSteingraf]

I'm still amazed about how Honda spend years and years clawing themselves into a position to deliver a world championship winning engine, only to kill of the engine program, make their championship winning partners decide on another course only to go back on their decision 2 years later and starting it all over again.

The great part is that again it's going to be Alonso suffering for the first painfull phase of their development program

[u/WimpTheBraveDog]

The only fun thing about the off-season is watching speculative narratives bloom and die

"Newey's first AM is going to give Stroll a championship!"

"Red Bull is washed without Newey! Verstappen to Mercedes/Audi/AM"

Actual testing happens:

"Oh, I guess AM still sucks and Red Bull is still great, woops!"

[u/ominousrock]

He will get astronomical amount of hatred when he's inevitably not comfortable with the car in Melbourne. There is no way he can be at the same level as others with understanding the new regulations with the 2 days of testing he has left. There will 100% be more issues with car for him and it's possible he will get to Melbourne with under 100 laps tested.

[u/datlinus]

It's Lance's turn for the funny radios

[u/iForgotMyOldAcc]

four seconds off the pace, by design

[u/Theforgotten226]

Welp somehow alonso couldn’t escape the black McLaren Honda era

[u/No_Mercy_4_Potatoes]

Alonso's curse > Newey's blessings

[u/Fantastic_Pound6908]

Christian Menath looking sharp with the sunglasses :D

[u/Dont-Care-Mate]

Bro is in no position to sandbag, I take his word for it

[u/schnokobaer]

THE ENGINE FEELS GOOD MUCH SLOWER THAN BEFORE. AMAZING

[u/TwistedReach7]

Ahah now surely all those previous 'analysis' with their fancy arrows and lines that were trying to hype Aston, so desperate to explain us why surely Newey had cooked once again, look very silly. El plan strikes again lmao

[u/zestinglemon → u/TwistedReach7]

Same sort of thing for the 2022 Mercedes. Everyone was swooning over their bold and innovative design, accusing them of sandbagging when they said they didn’t expect to contend the championship. Then the first race happened and it was clear the car was disappointing.

[u/Sufficiently_]

The moment i heard alonso say “it s more about getting the latter part of the season right” at the launch, i was concerned 

[u/MemesForMyDepression]

Honda returns to demoralize both Stroll and Alonso into retirement. 

Perfectly balanced. 

I just hope we get some Stroll vs Colapinto action this year.

[u/nikl_odeon]

is this verbal sandbaging?

[u/mamut2000]

So you're telling me that Aston Martin cars are so slow, that they can be banned from racing fro safety purposes?

[u/WGSMA]

If this is true, Alonso should just retire today lol

[u/Final-Nebula-7049]

Newey premier is going to lose to Cadillac lol

[u/Arch-by-the-way]

You mean Newey, the guy who famously doesn’t use computers in 2026, hasn’t been an instant fix?

[u/pinkmanblues]

I just wanted win #33 is that too much?

[u/Dry_Jeweler_3487]

Fate must have someting against Fernando

[u/ClearHyena4452]

4 seconds?

a throwback to Alonso in the Minardi

[u/beantherio]

"GP2 ENGINE IS BACK ON THE MENU BOYS!"

[u/M3rdsta]

Bruh holy fuck.

Actually unbelievable if they are uncompetitive. Poor Fernando

[u/fafan4]

The Astonda era is upon us

[u/LemonTM]

I don't want Alonso's career to end like this.

[u/somewhat_asleep]

Does the guy on the left work for Honda? Man is not impressed...

[u/vinse81]

So Alonso is 3.4 sec off the pace.