Alonso: Problems with the gearbox can cause an accident.

      In 2026, Aston Martin will use a gearbox of its own design for the first time. During the Miami Grand Prix, the team's drivers encountered unpredictable behavior from the gearbox when downshifting. According to Fernando Alonso, the gearbox can downshift randomly, which could pose a serious danger on the city circuit in Monaco.

      Fernando Alonso: "There are still a few areas in the car that need improvement, and the Monaco stage will be a good test. One of those areas is the gearbox. We've had issues with it since Miami, and Monaco is the last place you'd want to face unpredictable downshifting.

      In such a situation, you could lock up the rear wheels or get an unexpected jolt forward, after which you could end up in the wall. From the outside, it might look like the driver made a silly mistake, but sometimes we become passengers ourselves. You downshift one gear, and the engine's response is completely different from what you expect – as if someone suddenly floored the gas pedal.

      In Canada, we took a step in the right direction, but Monaco will show the real picture. If the downshifting issue remains the same as in Miami, we might not even be able to conduct the race properly. In one of the braking zones, the car could simply end up in the wall because each time the downshifts will behave differently.

      If the reliability issues that plagued us at the beginning of the season return, when we could only complete eight to twelve laps, then there won't be much difference between Monaco and any other track.

      We need to bring all the components together, and that's what we've been working on for the past two weeks after the Canadian stage. We understand how important this weekend is, so we're paying attention to every detail. I look forward to getting back behind the wheel."