The words of the former Ferrari engineer
After two Grands Prix, only two teams remain at zero points in the Constructors’ Championship. While a challenging start could be expected for the debuting Cadillac, Aston Martin entered the 2026 season with high expectations under Adrian Newey’s guidance. The AMR26, however, is currently impossible to judge due to the inadequacy of the Honda power unit, which for the second time has become a burden for Fernando Alonso. The Spanish driver already faced similar issues between 2015 and 2017 with the underperforming McLaren-Honda engine.
According to a veteran of the paddock, former Ferrari engineer Jock Clear, the situation at Aston Martin is unlikely to improve before 2027. “I don’t think anyone likes the situation Aston Martin finds itself in,” Clear told Ignition Casino. “We’re all very surprised, but unless you work inside Aston Martin, you cannot know exactly what the problems are. I sincerely hope that Aston Martin and Adrian Newey can solve as many issues as possible as quickly as possible, but I don’t know what could give them a hint of a solution. If we consider only development, it will take time – we’re talking about next year. If instead there’s a specific problem they can fix that suddenly provides another 100 horsepower, then that would be a better scenario. I hope that’s the case. I find it hard to understand why they are so far behind the competition.”
Alonso not seen as the ideal driver for this challenge
Clear also expressed doubts about Alonso being the right driver for such a delicate situation. “Alonso is one of the drivers I have never worked with. I don’t even think I’ve ever spoken to him. I don’t understand him at all. Of course, I know he’s a brilliant driver, truly brilliant. Fernando Alonso has done incredible things with various cars, so it’s clear he still has enormous talent behind the wheel. But if I had to choose a driver to get me out of this difficult situation, Alonso certainly wouldn’t be the first choice. That’s my concern. This situation does not suit his abilities at all.”
The partnership between Aston Martin and Honda was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle for Lawrence Stroll’s ambitions, but the early data from 2026 suggests a mountain left to climb. With Adrian Newey’s genius currently hampered by power unit limitations, the pressure is mounting on the Silverstone-based squad. As Jock Clear points out, the road back to the front is long, and the psychological toll on a driver of Alonso’s caliber could become a defining factor in whether the team can truly recover before the next regulatory shift.
The coming months will be a significant test for the AMR26 project. Based on the content of these recent struggles, it remains to be seen if the technical team can find that missing performance or if the “Honda curse” will continue to haunt Fernando Alonso’s final chapters in Formula 1.
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