Fernando Alonso unleashed a heated outburst over team radio after the 2025 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, highlighting the Lewis Hamilton brake controversy that unfolded at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Alonso, finishing eighth, expressed his frustration as Hamilton struggled through the final laps with a significant brake problem.
Hamilton’s Struggle with Brake Issues During the Race
Lewis Hamilton had been contesting fifth place with Kimi Antonelli but faced a severe brake malfunction in the race’s closing moments. This malfunction caused Hamilton to lose a substantial amount of time on the track, allowing Alonso to close in rapidly on the last lap. Despite the brake issue, Hamilton was permitted to finish the race, a decision that fueled Alonso’s anger given the safety concerns and fairness of competition.
Alonso’s Radio Complaint After the Race
After completing the race in eighth place, Alonso directed his frustration towards Hamilton’s brake issue during his radio exchange. His outburst included repeated expressions of disbelief and anger, captured in his words:
“Oh, fu**ing hell, man. I cannot believe it. Yeah, he knew it. I cannot fu**ing believe it, I cannot fu**ing believe it. I mean, I cannot fu**ing believe it. I cannot fu**ing believe it.”
He then questioned the safety of Hamilton continuing despite the malfunction:
Is it safe to drive with no brakes? Oh, he should…
Alonso’s engineer attempted to recalibrate his focus, explaining the team’s ongoing checks and the margin they had to work with:
Yeah, no, no, we are looking to, we agree, we’re checking track limits and stuff as well. You see, there’s a margin there. Run switch warm-up, mate, run switch warm-up. That is P8 anyway, so good recovery.
Alonso remained dissatisfied, emphasizing the lost opportunity for a better position:
Yeah, but this should be fu**ing P7. I mean, you cannot drive. Like if you are alone on track. Yeah, I mean, no respect the red flag yesterday, today, free track for them. I mean, maybe too much.
Race Penalties and Championship Implications
Following the race, Hamilton received a five-second penalty due to excessive corner cutting during his final laps, which demoted him behind Alonso in the official results. While Alonso’s concerns about safety resonate strongly, incidents of drivers continuing with impaired cars have precedent — notably, Hamilton’s own 2020 British Grand Prix victory where he completed a lap with a punctured tire on three functioning wheels.
For Alonso, there was a small consolation as he reclaimed a spot ahead of his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll in the drivers’ championship standings, illustrating how crucial every position is in this tightly contested season.
Ongoing Concerns and Future Considerations in F1 Safety
This situation underscores ongoing discussions around race safety and regulations, especially when mechanical failures pose risks to both drivers and others on track. The controversy around Hamilton’s brake troubles and Alonso’s vocal criticism is likely to prompt further scrutiny on protocols about when a car should be allowed to continue racing under severe mechanical distress.
