Adrian Newey\u2019s \u201cinspiring\u201d leadership means the Aston Martin drivers and team aren\u2019t panicking about a slow start to the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin looks set for a difficult beginning to the new regulation cycle, with reliability issues curtailing its preparations throughout the entire pre-season.<\/p>\n
Fernando Alonso: Adrian Newey hasn\u2019t forgotten everything in one year<\/p>\n
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Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Newey began work at Aston Martin in March 2025, with his efforts focused on the \u201926 car and project.<\/p>\n The team\u2019s switch to a Honda works power unit supply deal was an extra consideration in the preparations, as the Japanese manufacturer has returned to Formula 1 after a formal departure at the end of 2021.<\/p>\n But the AMR26 has endured a difficult start to life, with multiple breakdowns throughout the Barcelona shakedown and Bahrain tests, restricting Aston Martin\u2019s pre-season preparations to a paltry 400 laps.<\/p>\n This is just half of the second and third-lowest figures, achieved by Cadillac and Williams, managed during the same time period.<\/p>\n The reliability issues encountered by Honda, brought about by unexpectedly high amounts of vibration affecting the battery pack, prevented the team from carrying out a more comprehensive testing programme, although chief trackside officer Mike Krack has confirmed there are issues to be addressed across many different areas of the car, including the suspension and gearbox.<\/p>\n Newey, as a shareholder and managing technical partner, deposed former team principal Andy Cowell from his role in late 2025, which PlanetF1.com understands was due to an incompatibility between the two on how best to proceed in terms of design direction and priority.<\/p>\n With Newey now in the metaphorical driving seat for Aston Martin<\/a>, both of the drivers have said they have full confidence that the legendary car designer will lead the team to brighter days.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s all about performance. I mean, that\u2019s bringing performance to the car, and he\u2019s just obsessed about how we can bring more performance to the car,\u201d Lance Stroll said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a great leader overall, just trying to extract the most from everyone in their individual positions.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring to be a part of that and a privilege to work alongside him, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso, whose championship trophy cabinet could well have been filled more had he not had to race against some of Newey\u2019s record-breaking creations in the past, said he has \u201cno question marks\u201d about the competency of the AMR26 chassis penned by the 67-year-old.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so, especially on the chassis side,\u201d he said when asked about whether he still has full confidence in his team.<\/p>\n \u201cThe power unit side is a little bit more difficult because we don\u2019t have a good understanding yet of the regulations and what is needed, but on the chassis side, there is no question mark on that.\u201d<\/p>\n After 30-plus years of Adrian dominating the sport, it\u2019s not that he will forget everything in one year. I don\u2019t know where we are now in terms of chassis and grip level, but even if we are not at 100 per cent now, we will be at 100 soon, because we will fix any problem.<\/p>\n On the power unit, I think we need to give time and understand where we are, and, if we are behind, get better as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Aston Martin<\/p>\n Mike Krack says Aston Martin AMR26 problems span all areas of the car<\/a><\/p>\n Can Adrian Newey save Aston Martin-Honda?<\/a><\/p>\n Pedro de la Rosa: Having Adrian Newey is a \u2018turning point\u2019 for Aston Martin<\/p>\n With Newey defining his role as team principal himself, he is yet to speak to the media about the difficult start to the year, with senior leadership figures such as Mike Krack and Pedro de la Rosa instead plugging that gap.<\/p>\n De la Rosa, as a team ambassador, said there will be no excuses for Aston Martin\u2019s slow start to the regulation cycle, but did offer examples of why the struggles exist.<\/p>\n \u201cLooking back is always easy in terms of we should have, but\u00a0should have doesn\u2019t work in motorsport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, if we had possibly started earlier, if Adrian had been here not on the second of March, but a few months earlier, if Honda hadn\u2019t gone and then come back, it\u2019s ifs and buts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bottom line is we are slow. We are not where we want to be. Let\u2019s get a plan together. We know exactly what\u2019s wrong and work on it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo let\u2019s look ahead, and not look back at what went wrong, what we did. It\u2019s very easy to blame the time and that we started late. There were many reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cThe important thing is that we know what they are, really. That\u2019s what gives us the confidence that we will [recover], we don\u2019t know if it will be next month or\u2026 but the difference will slowly, gradually, shrink.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked by PlanetF1.com whether the priorities could change as a result of the difficulties, perhaps shifting away from mere understanding and hastening the introduction of upgrades, De La Rosa confirmed the intent will be to develop the understanding first and foremost.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, it\u2019s understand the package, understand the limitations, and then work on all those identified areas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not any different from any other season, although we have a new set of regulations, just slowly identify a problem, fix it. Work hard. There\u2019s no secret. There are no shortcuts. Just have to work flat out.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been very impressed by all the work from the team back at Silverstone to get together the car for Barcelona. The work that was being carried out at home has been tremendous. The people have worked night and day. They\u2019re very tired, and they are still pushing every day. No days off, it\u2019s really impressive and mighty to see the commitment of our people.<\/p>\n \u201cNo matter where you are, you always have to realise that these people are the guys who will make you come to the top.\u201d<\/p>\n Having been involved with Aston Martin since 2022, De La Rosa said he can feel a shift in the team\u2019s mentality under Newey, even though the staff across the various departments hasn\u2019t changed much.<\/p>\n \u201cSince Adrian has arrived, his leadership is unquestionable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think that the biggest difference I felt is, for example, he spoke on the technical debrief, and his leadership is so strong that all the team knows exactly what they have to do. This is very different from previous years, where everyone could have their own theory about things.<\/p>\n \u201cAdrian is very clear about what has to be done. And no one raises a hand to question him. Therefore, you have this massive amount of resources working in one single direction.<\/p>\n \u201cI know it might not sound convincing to you, but, believe me, sitting there and listening to these moments was very, very inspiring for all of us, especially when things go wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen things go right, we don\u2019t need a leader. It\u2019s when things go wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s critical. I think it\u2019s a turning point, having Adrian in the team.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not happy. I mean, let\u2019s be honest. You know, no one is happy when you are second slower than what you were expecting.<\/p>\n \u2018But it\u2019s true to say that no one is worried. It\u2019s different. We\u2019re not happy, but we are not like, \u2018Oh, this is it?\u2019 No, no way.\u201d<\/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