‘Probably we can’t race’ – Alonso’s pessimistic Monaco prediction

Fernando Alonso thinks that Aston Martin probably “cannot even race” in Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix if it doesn’t address its most urgent gearbox problem.While the tight and twisty nature of the Monaco circuit should mean Honda’s power deficit is not as badly exposed as at other tracks, Alonso said on Thursday that there was a bigger concern for him.He said downshift problems – and especially some random gear selections at unexpected points – are a must-fix if the team is to be able to run properly.”We have struggled with the gearbox since Miami,” said Alonso.”Monaco is not the place to have a random downshift, and you have rear [brake] locking or [engine] pushing or something like that. Then you will crash into the wall, and the driver will look stupid.”We are passengers sometimes when you put one gear down …