Aston Martin confirms Alonso's return for FP2 after Japan absence

Fernando Alonso is set to return to the Aston Martin cockpit for the second practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix after missing media day and FP1 due to personal family reasons. The team confirmed his expected participation following his absence, which has been linked to the impending birth of his child with partner Melissa Jimenez.

Why it matters:

A driver missing track time, especially at a demanding circuit like Suzuka, is a significant disruption to a race weekend's preparation. Alonso's experience is critical for Aston Martin to optimize its challenging AMR26 package, making his timely return vital for the team's competitive prospects.

The details:

• Alonso missed all Thursday media activities and the first practice session (FP1) at Suzuka.
• Aston Martin had previously confirmed the absence was for personal family reasons.
• The team has now informed media, including GPblog, that the two-time champion is expected to drive in FP2.
• Teammate's Commentary: Lance Stroll, who drove solo in FP1, recently commented on the AMR26's potential despite early-season struggles, highlighting a need for improvement in high-speed corners.
• Car Reliability: The team has yet to complete a full Grand Prix race distance with the 2026 car due to ongoing power unit vibration issues, which Stroll has described as the car's most painful characteristic.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Alonso's performance and feedback during FP2 and the remainder of the weekend. His ability to quickly get up to speed with the car's setup at a technical track will be crucial for Aston Martin's qualifying and race strategy, as the team continues to grapple with the AMR26's early reliability and performance hurdles.