Alonso Penalties Mount, Stroll Crashes Ahead of F1 Azerbaijan GP

Fernando Alonso continues to accumulate penalties for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, further complicating his race weekend. The Spanish driver's Aston Martin AMR26 is plagued by persistent issues with its Honda power unit, including an oil leak reported earlier.

The FIA announced the introduction of a seventh new battery for Alonso's car, significantly exceeding the legal limit of three for the season. While these cumulative penalties already ensure a back-of-the-grid start, the ongoing need for replacement parts highlights the chronic reliability problems.

Adding to Aston Martin's woes, teammate Lance Stroll damaged his car during the final free practice session, putting him under pressure for qualifying. The Silverstone-based team faces a challenging qualifying session and race in Baku, with both drivers encountering significant setbacks.

It appears Aston Martin's focus in Baku will be primarily on internal competition and managing their ongoing technical difficulties.