Alex Albon has rejected Fernando Alonso’s assessment of his driving following their collision at the United States Grand Prix. The incident occurred on the opening lap at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, sustained significant damage to his AMR26, including a ripped left-hand bargeboard and half of the floor. This damage reportedly cost him over half a second per lap. Albon’s Williams also incurred front wing damage.
Both drivers finished outside the points in Austin, with Alonso in 16th position and Albon in 17th. The FIA stewards investigated the contact but ultimately deemed it a racing incident, issuing no penalties.
Following the race, Alonso publicly stated that the ‘quality of the drivers in the lower third of the grid is very low,’ specifically referencing Albon. He also commented that Albon ‘forgot that corner 11 was there and he had to turn left.’
Ahead of the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix, Alonso reiterated his stance. He maintained his belief that Albon’s move was a ‘mistake that was not needed.’
Alonso clarified that his criticism was not aimed at a specific number of drivers. He suggested that ‘we all know which ones we talk about and which ones felt hit by that comment.’
The two-time world champion acknowledged that cars at the back of the grid are more challenging to drive due to less grip, which can lead to more frequent errors.
Albon, however, maintained his position that he did nothing wrong in the collision. He described the incident as a ’50-50′ racing situation.
While expressing respect for Alonso, Albon disagreed with the Spaniard’s assessment of driving standards. He stated his hope that their paths would not cross during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
Other midfield drivers, including Pierre Gasly and Oliver Bearman, supported Albon. They asserted that the current Formula 1 grid possesses a ‘super-high’ level of talent.
Gasly and Bearman also noted that opportunistic driving is sometimes a necessity due to the tight performance gaps across the field.
Williams has experienced a challenging 2026 season. Albon has secured five points from 14 races, with a tenth-place finish in Miami and an eighth-place finish in Monaco.
His contract with Williams was extended until the end of the 2027 season in August 2026. The team’s FW48 car has faced issues with reliability, performance consistency, and being overweight.
Albon has been out-qualified by his teammate Carlos Sainz in 12 of 13 qualifying sessions this season. Aston Martin’s AMR26 has also shown inconsistent performance throughout the year.
Alonso has scored points in only three races this season. The team introduced aerodynamic upgrades in Hungary and a revised Honda power unit at Zandvoort.
Despite these developments, performance and reliability concerns persist for Aston Martin. Alonso qualified 17th and finished 16th at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The team does not anticipate major changes to the AMR26 for the remaining six races of the season. The Mexican Grand Prix, round 19 of the 2026 F1 season, is scheduled from October 30 to November 1, 2026.
The event takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The circuit’s altitude, over 2,200 meters above sea level, significantly affects car aerodynamics, power unit performance, and cooling.
Albon has a history of strong performances in Mexico City, including a fifth-place finish in 2019 and a ninth-place finish in 2023.
