Fernando Alonso sees the trend which Lance Stroll was referring to when he claimed that Aston Martin needs to unlock four seconds of performance from the AMR26.<\/p>\n
However, Alonso argued that there are big margins to be found out on track as the drivers get to grips with a vastly different cars in F1 2026. While\u00a0Aston Martin<\/a> enters the season on the \u201cback foot\u201d as the Australian Grand Prix moves closer into view.<\/p>\n Aston Martin \u2018can unlock seconds\u2019 when get something right<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n There is a huge amount of attention on Aston Martin going into this new era of Formula 1. With F1 design icon Adrian Newey leading its charge, and Honda on board as new works engine partner, Aston Martin is a team with all the tools for future championship challenges, when its new factory and windtunnel are also thrown into the mix.<\/p>\n But, as Aston Martin\u2019s former strategy chief Bernie Collins previously alluded to, this first season could present challenges as all the puzzle pieces fit into place.<\/p>\n On the track, Aston Martin has not been setting the timing screens alight in Bahrain testing. That followed a delayed arrival in Barcelona, where only 54 laps were completed.<\/p>\n Following the opening day of Bahrain testing, with only 36 laps completed for Stroll, the Canadian claimed that Aston Martin \u201cneed to try and find four seconds of performance.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it falls from the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n Alonso, in conversation with PlanetF1.com and others, was asked about Stroll\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n Stroll ended the first day on a 1:39.883 personal best. He had improved to a 1:38.165 by the end of the third and final day.<\/p>\n Alonso, meanwhile, peaked at a 1:38.248 on day two.<\/p>\n \u201cDifficult to know,\u201d said Alonso when asked how far behind Aston Martin really is.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Lance said that because in Barcelona, we were four-and-a-half [seconds off], and in the first two days [of Bahrain testing], we were like four-and-a-half or five. So it seemed like a trend in the last three days.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t know. I did a lap yesterday that I went off in Turn 4, and then from that point to the finish line I improved eight tenths. So it\u2019s just to give you the number of errors that there are in every lap we are doing now.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are laps that we are eight tenths up and down by changing one setting.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s not that we need to find two tenths. When we optimise, maybe we unlock seconds.<\/p>\n \u201cSo let\u2019s hope next week we have a better picture. As I said, we are realistic. We will not be the fastest in Melbourne. We started on the slow side and on the back foot, but difficult to guess exactly where.\u201d<\/p>\n Latest F1 2026 talking points via PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Safety concerns trigger calls for urgent change to F1 2026 race starts<\/a><\/p>\n Ferrari rules out Australian GP protest as Mercedes engine saga nears boiling point<\/a><\/p>\n Aston Martin, and its 10 F1 2026 rivals, all have three more days of testing in Bahrain to make use of before the season begins in Australia.<\/p>\n Alonso says such time is precious for Aston Martin.<\/p>\n Alonso was told that he had, at one stage in Bahrain test one, been locking up over three to four laps, including a huge one.<\/p>\n He was asked whether that is an accurate snapshot of the challenges which he is facing in the car.<\/p>\n \u201cYes and no.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is one of them, but we cannot forget that for us, it\u2019s the very first time we are building the gearbox in the history of the team. The very first time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a challenge, and we need to get better. We need to have more info. The very first time, as I said, we build the gearbox, we build the differential, the clutch, these kind of thing.<\/p>\n \u201cSo when we run there, and maybe some of the downshifts are a little bit harsh or whatever, we come back, we change a couple of settings, we test again.<\/p>\n \u201cWe used to have a Mercedes engine and gearbox with all the settings done, and for us now it\u2019s all new. So I think it\u2019s needed, the time that we are having now, to improve this.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n