F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Brown 'in a state of disbelief' after Alonso FP1 failure

McLaren boss Zak Brown couldn't believe his eyes when Fernando Alonso's McLaren was left stranded after just three corners in the morning's free practice session.

As he embarked on his first lap of the day, Alonso came to a smoking halt on the exit of Turn 3, his morning undermined by another Honda power unit failure.

"Sadness… disappointment… just kind of a state of disbelief," Brown commented on Alonso's early exit from FP1.

"But you then can't cry over spilt milk, so we it [was best to] quickly getting to turning your attention to Stoffel's car and seeing what we learn there.

"He's gone alright today all things considered, he's done an exceptional job, then you hope to learn about  whatever caused the failure."

A dejected Alonso simply left the Circuit de Catalunya shortly after his engine failure, and hit the nearby tennis courts instead.

"I think anything Fernando can do to exercise his frustration is a good thing," he added.

"If you go sit in a room you just don’t exercise, [you need to] get some energy out, you get built up energy, you expect to go out and do an hour and a half and end up doing something substantially less than that.

"I think going and doing other activities to get your mind off it is healthy."

Win the ULTIMATE TRACKDAY with F1i.com!

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

 

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

McLaren: No regrets over timing of Norris pit stop in Sao Paulo GP

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted that the squad has no regrets about their…

1 hour ago

Williams' Boutsen hoists the mainsail in Adelaide

On this day in 1989, Williams' Thierry Boutsen secured his second F1 win when he…

2 hours ago

Horner: Max 'answered critics' with epic Sao Paulo GP drive

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed Max Verstappen’s sensational Sao Paulo Grand Prix victory…

3 hours ago

Sainz left puzzled by double crash drama in rainy São Paulo

Carlos Sainz was left scratching his head after a disastrous Sunday at the Sao Paulo…

4 hours ago

Alonso pushed through agonizing pain to complete Sao Paulo GP

Fernando Alonso braved both physical agony and mechanical challenges in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix,…

6 hours ago

Alpine double-podium in Brazil could deliver $30 million windfall

Alpine’s remarkable double podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix with Esteban Ocon and Pierre…

20 hours ago