Aston Martin's F1 Nightmare: Engine Woes in Australia

0:00On March 6th, Asden Martin is facing a nightmare start to the Formula One season, and things got even uglier during free practice in Australia. Team Principal Adrian Newey revealed serious worries that they might not even make qualifying or the race at Albert Park because of engine vibrations, and battery failures with their new Honda power units. The vibration problem is shaking the steering wheel so badly that drivers Fernando Alonzo and Lance Stroll fear long-term hand injuries. Alonzo thinks he can handle just 25 laps at most, while Stroll was limited to 15, both far short of the 58 laps needed for the full race distance. On top of that, they're down to their last two battery units after issues with the other two they brought. Newey confirmed Honda has no spares to sin, leaving the team in a real bind with no quick backups available. This mess stems partly from surprises in Honda's engine team setup. Asden Martin only learned late last year that many key staff were new to Formula One after Honda's break in return, which has led to these early.

1:03Teething problems with no easy fix in sight. Meanwhile, the rest of the field looks strong, with Ferrari and McLaren drivers topping practice times, though the true order won't clear up until qualifying. Asden Martin's woes highlight how tough the new season has been right from the opening laps.