Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Aston Martin introduced multiple new Honda power unit components for both cars. The combined penalties total 45 grid places for the Baku event, which is the 15th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Alonso has received a 25-place grid penalty. This follows the introduction of his fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger, and ninth power unit ancillary component. He also has a fifth MGU-K, sixth energy store, and sixth control electronics unit in use.
Stroll’s car has been fitted with a sixth turbocharger, a seventh energy store, a sixth control electronics unit, and an eighth power unit ancillary component. Additionally, he is using a fifth internal combustion engine and a fifth MGU-K. These changes result in a 20-place grid penalty for Stroll.
Formula 1 regulations for the 2026 season stipulate that drivers are permitted to use a maximum of four internal combustion engines and turbochargers. The allowance for MGU-Ks, energy stores, and control electronics is three units each.
Exceeding the allocation for any power unit element for the first time incurs a 10-place grid penalty. Subsequent breaches for the same element result in a five-place grid drop. All penalties accumulated at a single event are applied cumulatively.
Any driver who incurs a cumulative grid penalty exceeding 15 places is automatically required to start the race from the back of the field. This regulation applies to both Aston Martin drivers for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The penalties highlight ongoing reliability challenges for Aston Martin’s Honda power units during the 2026 campaign. The team has faced repeated issues, forcing the introduction of additional components throughout the season.
Earlier this season, Alonso received penalties in Belgium and commenced the Italian Grand Prix from the pit lane due to electrical component changes under parc fermé conditions. Honda’s pre-season testing was also affected by abnormal vibrations damaging the battery system.
Honda Racing Corporation leaders acknowledged ‘a number of issues’ in Bahrain testing, specifically related to the battery. The manufacturer has been on a ‘very short timeline’ to address these reliability concerns for its 2026 F1 engine.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend runs from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26, 2026. The race itself is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, a day earlier than usual to accommodate Azerbaijan’s Day of Remembrance.
Free practice sessions took place on Thursday, September 24, with qualifying scheduled for Friday, September 25. The exact starting order between Alonso and Stroll will be confirmed after qualifying.
Despite the grid penalties, the impact on Aston Martin’s race prospects in Baku may be limited. Stroll finished 21st in Free Practice 2, with Alonso last, indicating a current performance deficit.
