Fernando Alonso Exposes Critical ‘Daniel Ricciardo’ Issue

Fernando Alonso faced a frustrating end to his Monaco Grand Prix, retiring while running in the points. On lap 36, Alonso pulled into Rascasse after dealing with engine trouble since lap 15.

The Spaniard pointed out that the problem was similar to the 2018 issue Daniel Ricciardo had, saying he lacked both the air system and some electrical support. This cost him about 160 brake horsepower, a significant amount, but in Monaco, outright power is less critical.

Despite that, he kept his lap times reasonable and hoped to finish as high as sixth, staying positive about his driving and his strong qualifying effort.

With this latest DNF, Alonso’s point-less start in 2025 marks his toughest season-opening run since his Formula 1 debut in 2001. So far this year, his best results include three 11th-place finishes, narrowly missing out on points in Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Imola. More details on Alonso’s struggles can be found in the article on his point-less streak.

After the race, Alonso explained that the failure was not a matter of bad luck or random misfortune, but a technical fault reminiscent of Ricciardo’s past miseries at the track. Losing out on points in Monaco, where qualifying had put him in a promising spot, was especially disappointing for the Aston Martin driver.

When asked about the difficult start, Alonso made it clear he is looking beyond short-term gains this season. He admitted he would accept more retirements if it helps Aston Martin develop a winning car for the next big regulation change.

In his words, finishing eighth in Barcelona or Canada—or collecting a handful of points—means little in comparison to the opportunity to fight for the title in the future. Alonso was candid, saying he would trade this year’s struggles for the chance to win in Australia next season, showing how much his focus is on the long game. This mentality places him among true F1 title underdogs.

Looking ahead, Alonso’s optimism reflects the team’s ambitions as Formula 1 approaches its next significant regulation update. While the 2025 campaign has not delivered the results he wanted, Alonso remains confident that the sacrifices of today can lead to championship contention tomorrow.

Such a mindset is not unusual for a two-time world champion used to cycling through fortunes with his teams.

Elsewhere in the paddock, Monaco’s event saw several other storylines grab attention. The new mandatory two-stop rule and Lando Norris’s bounce back formed major talking points as teams prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Technical directives for Barcelona are also in focus as the field looks to reset after the challenges of Monaco’s street circuit.

In the championship, Oscar Piastri leads the drivers with 161 points, closely trailed by McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 158. Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc round out the top five.

McLaren sits at the top of the team standings, with Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari locked in close competition further behind. All eyes are now on the next rounds, as teams aim to convert lessons from Monaco into stronger results on more traditional circuits.