Aston Martin is facing significant hurdles at the outset of the 2026 Formula 1 season, hampered by technical difficulties and a lack of track time during pre-season testing in Bahrain. The team, now powered by Honda, has encountered issues with the new AMR26 car, raising concerns ahead of the season opener.

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Power Unit Problems Plague Testing

The AMR26 has experienced a troubled start to testing, arriving late to Barcelona and struggling for mileage. Issues continued at the Bahrain test, with Lance Stroll spinning into the gravel after what appeared to be a technical fault. Fernando Alonso also encountered power unit problems during testing.

“Yesterday we had some battery issues on Fernando’s car, and therefore Honda is carrying out test simulations in the test bench in Sakura,”

Pedro de la Rosa, via F1 TV

As of Friday, the Aston Martin car had yet to return to the track, partially due to a shortage of power unit parts, according to team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa.

Honda Acknowledges Issues

Honda has publicly acknowledged the problems, stating they are conducting simulations at their Sakura test bench. They have adapted their run plan for Bahrain to consist of only short stints due to the parts shortage.

“Since then, we have been carrying out simulations on the test bench in HRC Sakura. Due to this and a shortage of power unit parts, we have adapted today’s run plan to be exceptionally limited and consist only of short stints.”

Honda, via social media

Newey’s Arrival and Development Timeline

The challenges are compounded by the timing of Adrian Newey’s arrival at Aston Martin. Newey joined the team in March 2025 to lead development for the 2026 car, a timeline that, according to Pedro de la Rosa, put aerodynamic development four months behind rivals.

The 18-month gap between Honda’s initial departure from Formula 1 and their agreement to supply Aston Martin for 2026 has also been cited as a contributing factor.

Performance Deficit

The AMR26’s current performance is significantly behind competitors. Its best testing time of 1m35.974s is 1.4 seconds slower than the rest of the field, with the exception of Cadillac.

“Definitely, we are not where we wanted to be,”

Pedro de la Rosa

De la Rosa admitted the team has completed the fewest laps during pre-season testing but believes they have gathered valuable data to prepare for the Australian Grand Prix.

Newey and Watanabe Collaboration

Despite the current difficulties, there is a strong working relationship between Adrian Newey and Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe, stemming from their successful collaboration at Red Bull. Watanabe described their interactions as quite intense, but also filled with laughter.

FAQ

What is causing Aston Martin’s issues?

Aston Martin is experiencing problems with the Honda power unit, specifically battery issues, and a shortage of parts. The late arrival of Adrian Newey has also impacted aerodynamic development.

How far behind are Aston Martin?

The AMR26 is currently 1.4 seconds slower than the rest of the field in testing, excluding Cadillac.

What is Adrian Newey’s role?

Adrian Newey is leading the development of the AMR26 and will act as team principal starting with the 2026 season.