Alonso calls Hadjar’s easy Singapore GP re-pass “ridiculous”

Fernando Alonso passed Isack Hadjar early in the Singapore Grand Prix, but Hadjar reclaimed the position during a Virtual Safety Car period with help from his Red Bull-Ford power unit. Alonso later finished ahead of Sergio Perez after pit stops and a late-race position change involving Alex Albon.

RaceFans has reported:

Fernando Alonso said Isack Hadjar’s easy re-pass during the Singapore Grand Prix was “so ridiculous” after the Red Bull driver used his car’s power to get past the Aston Martin during a Virtual Safety Car period. Alonso had started from the pit lane following a power unit change and initially moved ahead of Hadjar on the first lap.

At the end of lap one, Alonso attacked Hadjar as they approached turn one. Alonso was on soft tyres, while the Red Bull driver had mediums, and passed on the inside. Hadjar spent the next seven laps looking for a way back past before the Virtual Safety Car gave him an opportunity.

As the cars approached turn seven, Hadjar’s Red Bull-Ford engine allowed him to accelerate past Alonso and Sergio Perez, who was ahead of the Aston Martin. The re-pass prompted Alonso’s complaint about the engine. The report also described the move as an easy acceleration past both drivers.

Alonso’s lap times improved after Perez made a pit stop on lap 20. Alonso pushed to build a gap to Perez, but was unhappy that his team kept him on track long enough for race leader Max Verstappen to catch him. Alonso then had to slow to let the other Red Bull driver through, losing much of the time he had gained.

Alonso emerged from his pit stop ahead of Perez. On lap 38, Alex Albon pitted and fell behind Alonso. Alonso held his position from then until the finish, remaining ahead of Perez.

The Singapore race also featured other incidents noted in coverage of the event: Charles Leclerc was shocked by a mid-race Ferrari fault that caused his car to brake on its own; a question was raised about the absence of radio audio for the Virtual Safety Car message that prompted Lewis Hamilton to apologize; and Hamilton repeatedly asked Ferrari to let him pass Leclerc after a “hold position” order. Red Bull’s “exceptionally fast” car also alarmed rivals after Verstappen dominated again.

The report was published on Oct. 12, 2026, at 3:49 p.m. by Keith Collantine. Collantine, a lifelong motor sport fan, founded RaceFans in 2005 under its original name, F1 Fanatic. He had worked as a motoring journalist and began running the site full-time in 2010, fulfilling a long-held ambition to focus on his interest in motor racing.