Suzuka, April 4, 2025 – by GP Thread
Fernando Alonso was left puzzled after an unexpected spin during the second free practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Aston Martin driver lost control of his car at Turn 8, ending his session prematurely with a trip through the gravel trap.
“I don’t really know what happened – I need to look at the data,” said the two-time world champion after the session. Alonso had just bolted on a set of soft tyres following the lengthy red flag caused by Jack Doohan’s high-speed crash. His first sector looked promising, clocking a 30.653 – the fastest time through the sweeping corners up to that point.
But as he approached the second sector, things quickly went wrong. Entering Turn 8, Alonso lost the rear of the car and slid straight into the gravel at Degner 2.
“It was a strange one,” Alonso admitted. “There were strong gusts of wind out there, very inconsistent. That might have played a role. I’m not sure if I put a wheel on the grass either.”
Onboard Footage Tells a Different Story
While Alonso initially blamed the wind, onboard footage seemed to reveal the actual cause. As he turned into the fast right-hander, his left-front tyre dipped slightly onto the grass at the edge of the track. The resulting loss of rear grip caused a sudden snap, sending the Aston Martin into a spin. Alonso tried to correct, but it was too late – the gravel brought his session to an abrupt end.
The Degner curves – Turns 8 and 9 – are among the most technical sections of Suzuka. Degner 1 allows drivers to carry significant speed thanks to its wider radius, but Degner 2 requires precise braking and commitment. Maximizing the track width on entry is key, but Alonso pushed just beyond the limit.
Whether the wind truly contributed will only be confirmed once Aston Martin has reviewed the telemetry.
Cautious Optimism for Qualifying
Despite the setback, Alonso remained upbeat about the AMR25’s pace heading into the rest of the weekend.
“I think we’re a bit more competitive here than we were in China,” he said. “Hopefully Q3 is within reach tomorrow.”