AUSTIN, TEXAS | TUNGARU PRESS | October 26, 2026
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has criticised Williams driver Alex Albon following their opening-lap collision at the 2026 United States Grand Prix, claiming the standard of driving among competitors in the lower third of the field is currently “very low.”
The Aston Martin driver was left frustrated after the incident damaged both cars and disrupted what he believed could have been one of his team's strongest races of the season.
Alonso finished 16th at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, while Albon crossed the line in 17th.
Alonso Blames Albon for Opening-Lap Collision
The incident occurred at Turn 11 on the opening lap as Albon attempted to overtake Alonso for 12th position.
The Williams driver made contact with the side of Alonso's Aston Martin, causing damage to both cars.
Despite the collision, race officials did not issue a penalty to either driver, and both continued racing.
Speaking after the Grand Prix, Alonso made his frustration clear.
“Albon forgot Turn 11 was there and he had to turn left,” Alonso said.
The Spaniard then criticised the overall standard of driving among competitors towards the back of the field.
“We need to get better and start a little bit higher up because the bottom third of the grid, the quality of the drivers is very low at the moment.”
His comments were among the strongest criticisms of fellow competitors following Sunday's race.
Aston Martin Misses Potential Points Finish
Alonso had qualified 12th for the United States Grand Prix, matching his best qualifying performance of the 2026 season.
The 45-year-old believed Aston Martin had enough pace to challenge for a points finish before the opening-lap incident compromised his race.
According to Alonso, the damage reduced his car's performance by approximately half a second per lap.
“It was the best race by far of the year for us in terms of competitiveness. Good tyre management. We got a lot of damage on Lap 1 with the Albon incident,” he said.
The lost performance made it difficult for Alonso to recover positions, leaving him outside the points despite what he considered an encouraging weekend for the team.
No Penalties Despite Contact
Race stewards reviewed the opening-lap incident but did not penalise either driver.
Both Alonso and Albon managed to continue after the contact, although neither was able to finish inside the top 15.
Alonso's comments reflected his disappointment with the incident, particularly because he believed Aston Martin had made progress in its race performance.
The collision also highlighted the challenges drivers face when competing in the closely contested midfield, where small mistakes can significantly affect race results.
Focus Turns to Mexico City Grand Prix
With the United States Grand Prix completed, Formula 1 now heads to Mexico City for the next round of the 2026 championship.
Alonso and Aston Martin will be hoping to build on the competitiveness they demonstrated in Austin while avoiding further incidents.
For Albon and Williams, the focus will also turn to recovering from a disappointing result in Texas.
Alonso's criticism has added tension to the midfield battle, with the veteran driver making clear that he expects higher driving standards as the season enters its final stages.
Source: Sky Sports.
Adapted and rewritten for Tungaru Press. Direct quotations are attributed to Fernando Alonso as reported by Sky Sports.
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