Aston Martin AMR26 shows promise: Fernando Alonso highlights team’s potential in Barcelona. Fernando Alonso expresses optimism about the Aston Martin AMR26.

Fernando Alonso believes in the potential of the AMR26. More private testing today

Aston Martin had a rather stormy start to the season: the team didn’t have the car ready for the first days of testing and only made its debut on Thursday, in a day also slowed by a mechanical issue. Nevertheless, the AMR26 immediately drew attention in the paddock for its innovative and aggressive design, overseen by new team principal Adrian Newey.

But more than lap times, which were not entirely reliable since the drivers were running the engine in reduced power mode, what stands out is Fernando Alonso’s attitude. Usually critical and gruff, he was seen smiling and optimistic in the past hours. “Everyone is very excited and motivated when they see Adrian Newey in the garage. He checks every detail and makes an effort to know the mechanics by name. He knows the eyes of the world are on him while others try to find technical weaknesses or copy what he wants to improve. He always teaches us something,” said the Spanish driver.

“Over the years I’ve seen many changes, and it’s always a special moment when you go out on track for the first time. You immediately understand which direction the season will take. We completed our program with plenty of kilometers covered, but the road to Melbourne is still long,” Fernando Alonso added in a team statement.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin will try to make up for lost time with a filming day scheduled for today, right at Barcelona. Behind the wheel will be reserve driver Jak Crawford.

Fernando Alonso’s renewed optimism suggests that the AMR26 may possess the underlying performance needed to overcome its difficult birth, provided the team can harness Adrian Newey’s legendary technical vision. While the initial delays in Barcelona were a cause for concern, the successful completion of their revised run plan and the addition of a filming day with Jak Crawford indicate a team that is rapidly shifting into high gear. As the focus moves toward the official pre-season tests, the positive atmosphere within the Silverstone squad—highlighted by Alonso’s rare praise—could be the first sign that Aston Martin is ready to disrupt the established order in 2026. The journey to Melbourne remains challenging, but with the data from these final Barcelona laps in hand, the team now has a clear path forward to unlock the true potential of their aggressive new design.