Stoffel Vandoorne has discussed the upcoming chassis upgrades at Aston Martin, with the team hoping to make clear progress early in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The start of 2026 has fallen well short of expectations for the British outfit. However, at Silverstone there is firm belief that all the necessary ingredients are in place to become competitive again over the course of the current campaign. In the meantime, important updates are expected on the chassis side, with Aston Martin targeting measurable steps forward in the opening rounds of the championship.
The team’s reserve driver confirmed the positive mindset within the squad, despite the obvious difficulties that emerged during pre-season testing. The main issues appear to stem from the power unit, but Honda is already working to introduce solutions in the early races of the calendar. Not all Power Unit problems will be resolved immediately, but the car is expected to benefit from improved reliability in the short term.
Aston Martin ready to respond in the opening Grands Prix
The situation in Australia could prove challenging, yet the team is focusing heavily on developments ahead of Suzuka, which will mark the third round of the season. Further Power Unit upgrades are expected to arrive for the Japanese Grand Prix, with Honda fully committed as it prepares for its home race.
Vandoorne also highlighted a series of chassis-related updates that are intended not only to improve overall performance, but also to reduce the vibrations that have been creating difficulties for the engine: “At the moment we are not where we want to be and we have a lot of work to do at the start of this season. There will be many developments from a chassis point of view and the integration with Honda is demanding. We also need to improve in that area,” he told SoyMotor.
“I hope to see big steps forward, especially at the beginning of the season, where we can make progress. It has not been an easy transition, that’s clear. It hasn’t been as straightforward as we would have liked, let’s put it that way.”
Optimism at Silverstone surrounding the AMR26
The team’s philosophy at the start of 2026 is clear. The car’s weaknesses are evident, but insiders believe there is real potential to turn the situation around. Investment in infrastructure and human capital will be crucial in the process that could bring the AMR26 closer to the front-running teams in Formula 1.
“If you look at McLaren a couple of years ago, they were last, and suddenly they became a winning team. Anything is possible; we have Adrian in the team,” Vandoorne added, again speaking to SoyMotor. “I know he arrived a bit late and that certainly didn’t help, but at least there is that positive momentum that can radically change things. The simple reality is that we need to keep our heads down, work hard and find our rhythm.”
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