Watch: Fernando Alonso loses control of his Aston Martin and crashes during the F1 Imola GP FP1

Fernando Alonso (14) on track during final practice ahead of the 2024 F1 Imola Grand Prix. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
Fernando Alonso (14) on track during final practice ahead of the 2024 F1 Imola Grand Prix. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)

Fernando Alonso crashed into the barriers on the third and final practice session at the 2024 F1 Imola GP. His crash brought out the first of two red flags that plagued FP3.

Coming into Imola, Aston Martin brought a sizable upgrade package in hopes of bouncing back and fighting with the top teams. In the second practice session, Alonso struggled to clock a fast lap since he was accidentally blocked twice by his old rival, Lewis Hamilton.

In the third practice session, the Spaniard was on a flying lap when the rear of his revised AMR24 stepped away as he pushed through the last double left-hander at Rivazza. This resulted in him flying across the gravel and into the wall bordering the track.

Alonso was unharmed after the collision and was cleared to leave the medical center. However, his car suffered serious damage, cutting out a lot of work for Aston Martin mechanics before the qualifying session at Imola.

The commentators discussed the crash and speculated that Fernando Alonso's car was slightly wide through the corners. This could have caused the tires to pick up dust from the dirty side of the track, which dropped the grip.

While the session resumed after a few minutes, it was once again stopped when Red Bull's Sergio Perez lost control of his car and got stuck in the gravel trap.

In all three practice sessions, Fernando Alonso only managed to finish two of them. In both FP1 and FP2, the Aston Martin driver only managed to finish P10.


Fernando Alonso was furious with Lewis Hamilton for impeding him twice during Imola practice

During the second practice session of the 2024 F1 Imola GP, Fernando Alonso was furious with Lewis Hamilton for obstructing him twice.

Alonso was on his flying lap during the second practice session at Imola. When he approached Hamilton, the latter did not get away from the racing line at turn 12 in time, which cost Alonso several tenths of a second. Later in the session, Hamilton accidentally blocked Alonso once again at turn 7.

The Aston Martin driver was enraged by the actions of his old rival and claimed that Hamilton was obstructing both of his flying laps on the team radio. Alonso sarcastically stated that Hamilton thought he was alone on the track.

"Hamilton thinks that he is alone on the track. It's the second lap he does it, you know, turn 12 and now turn 7," Alonso exclaimed.

Fernando Alonso was not the only driver Lewis Hamilton blocked at Imola's FP2. He also accidentally blocked Max Verstappen when the reigning world champion was on a fast lap. After the incident, Hamilton came side-by-side with the Red Bull driver and apologized.

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