Aston Martin has been backed by the majority of Formula 1 fans to be allowed to start the Japanese Grand Prix, despite its alarming vibrations problem.
In a RacingNews365 poll, over 65% of voters supported the British outfit being allowed to start at Suzuka to gather more data and better understand how to solve the issue.
However, the remaining voters believe Aston Martin should not be allowed to start the next round, given the severity of the problem and the associated safety concerns.
Ahead of the season opener in Australia, team principal Adrian Newey warned that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were at risk of permanent nerve damage in their hands due to vibrations throughout the AMR26's chassis.
The issue is being caused by a component within Honda's battery, which has generally resulted in significant setbacks for the Silverstone-based team.
During the race in China, the vibrations were evident in dramatic fashion, with Alonso even taking his hands off the steering wheel due to the issue.
Ultimately, the two-time champion was forced to retire from the Grand Prix after suffering numbness in his hands and feet.
Given the short turnaround before Japan, it is highly unlikely the vibrations issue will be resolved, although the five-week gap before Miami does offer Honda a window to fix it.
Nevertheless, most fans believe Aston Martin should be allowed to start at Honda's home race.
Check out the poll results below!
Should Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll be allowed to compete in the Japanese GP?
| Option | % of vote |
|---|---|
| Yes - The team needs to build up mileage and data to understand the issue | 65.2 |
| No - It is clearly a safety problem | 34.8 |
Also interesting:
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