© Lucas Peltier/Imagn
Life briefly imitated art on Friday morning when Formula 1 star Fernando Alonso had a terrifying moment in practice for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix. Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 champion, was driving his Aston Martin entry through the final sector of Bahrain International Circuit when, before he knew it, his steering wheel came entirely off its mounting, leaving the Spaniard helpless when it came to directing the car.
“Change the steering wheel! There’s a problem with the steering wheel. It keeps switching off,” he could be heard telling his team over the radio. Thankfully for Alonso, he was able to get the car slowed down before impacting the wall or another car and was able to reattach the steering wheel.
Fernando Alonso’s steering wheel has come off 👀
The Spaniard is back in the pits now as Aston Martin investigate the issue #F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/fV1INSJYM4
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 11, 2025
Life Imitates Are As Formula 1 Star’s Steering Wheel Flies Off While He’s Driving
It’s not the first time we’ve seen a bizarre incident occur during a Formula 1 practice session. Twice this season the series has had to stop session due to random parts of the track catching fire. But it is, with the benefit of the hindsight, the most comical incident. Particularly for those familiar with the Tim Robinson Netflix series “I Think You Should Leave.” During one of the show’s more famous sketches, one of Robinson’s characters attends a focus group for a new Ford car and suggests that the most important thing in a car is “a good steering wheel that doesn’t fly off while you’re driving.”
As it turns out, having a good steering wheel that doesn’t fly off while you’re driving is very important. Hopefully for Alonso and Aston Martin, the team will get the issue sorted before he has to head back out on track.