Adrian Newey says Aston Martin’s relationship with Honda has become significantly stronger after the two partners were forced to work through a disastrous start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. With a major AMR26 development programme now under way and further Honda power-unit improvements approaching, the Silverstone team is beginning to see encouraging signs after months of difficulty.
Aston Martin’s progress is not limited to the technical side. Adrian Newey believes the problems encountered during the opening phase of the new regulations have ultimately encouraged much closer cooperation between the team and Honda, which became its works engine partner at the beginning of 2026.
Adrian Newey says Aston Martin-Honda relationship has improved
Speaking in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Adrian Newey admitted that the beginning of the partnership fell well short of expectations.
“I think what has really improved is the relationship,” Adrian Newey explained. “After what can only be described as a disastrous start, the positive is that it has brought Honda and Aston Martin into a very close working relationship. We continue to develop that in every area.”
The British designer believes that improved cooperation could eventually translate directly into greater competitiveness.
“I am very happy with the progress we are making from a relationship point of view,” Adrian Newey added. “Normally, when relationships improve, performance improves as well.”
It represents an important change after a difficult opening to Aston Martin and Honda’s new era. Reliability problems and a lack of outright performance affected the early races, while the AMR26 itself also proved considerably less competitive than the team had hoped.
Aston Martin prepares further upgrades for Zandvoort, Monza and Baku
The first significant signs of technical improvement appeared at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Aston Martin introduced a substantially revised car. The development programme is far from complete, however, with further changes planned after the summer break.
A new evolution of the Honda power unit is expected to make its debut at Zandvoort, while additional chassis developments are planned across the Monza and Baku weekends. The upcoming sequence of races on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar will therefore provide an important indication of whether Aston Martin can continue closing the gap.
Adrian Newey nevertheless warned against expecting the upgrades to transform the AMR26 into the fastest car immediately.
“The technical evolution of the car we saw in Hungary and the updates that we will bring to Zandvoort and then Baku represent very important steps,” Adrian Newey said. “It is clear that we are trying to catch up.”
“Will this make us the fastest car? Unfortunately not. But does it represent a good step forward compared with where we were? Yes, I think it does.”
The Hungarian package has already increased optimism around the project, with Fernando Alonso also backing the development potential of Aston Martin’s revised AMR26 as further improvements are prepared.
Fernando Alonso reportedly seeks Aston Martin contract extension
While Aston Martin works to improve its car, Fernando Alonso’s future also remains a major topic during the summer break.
According to journalist Marc Limacher of Business Book GP, the two-time Formula 1 World Champion has asked for €40 million per season to extend his Aston Martin contract through 2027 and 2028. Fernando Alonso is currently estimated to earn around €30 million per year.
The reported demand would represent a significant increase, but Aston Martin has repeatedly made clear how highly it values Fernando Alonso’s experience and technical feedback. Adrian Newey has also expressed confidence that the Spaniard could continue with the team beyond the current season.
Rumours of a possible return to Alpine have also circulated in recent months, although no official confirmation has emerged. Fernando Alonso has previously played down speculation linking him with an Alpine return while emphasising his commitment to the Aston Martin project.
The next phase of development could therefore prove important on several fronts. Aston Martin needs the revised AMR26 and Honda power unit to confirm that the progress seen around Hungary can continue, while stronger results would also strengthen the case for Fernando Alonso to remain part of the project.
After one of the most difficult starts imaginable, Adrian Newey now sees signs that the relationship between Aston Martin and Honda is moving in the right direction. The performance gap remains substantial, but the technical and organisational foundations appear stronger than they were at the beginning of 2026.
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