Aston Martin have unveiled the new AMR26 livery in Saudi Arabia, the first car of the Adrian Newey era and the first to be powered by a Honda power unit. Once again, green remains the defining colour. While the team awaits its return to the track for the Bahrain tests, the launch of the new colour scheme—revealed on a show car—symbolically marks the beginning of a new chapter.
The AMR26 can truly be described as the start of a new era for Aston Martin, not only because it is the first car designed for the 2026 regulation changes. It is also the first single-seater with which the Silverstone-based team dares to dream, leaving behind its status as a customer team to embrace the Honda power unit at the heart of the first car signed by Adrian Newey.
All these elements have fuelled growing interest around a team with significant ambitions, but one that, as often happens with projects of this scale, still needs time to fully unlock its potential.
This was not hidden even by Adrian Newey himself, who explained that the AMR26 project started around four months late due to the team only being able to use the new wind tunnel from April 2025. This delay forced Aston Martin to compress its development work, which then took tangible shape in Barcelona, where the car completed its first kilometres on track.
As the team prepares to return to the circuit in Bahrain in the coming days for the second pre-season test session—where Aston Martin will aim to recover the time lost in Spain—the Silverstone outfit has revealed the livery with which the AMR26 will contest the season. The colour scheme stays faithful to classic British Racing Green, a colour that has accompanied the brand’s cars for years, even though the unveiling was carried out using a show car that does not reflect the final shapes of the AMR26.
The decision to unveil the new livery in Saudi Arabia was no coincidence. It strengthens the relationship with title sponsor Aramco, which is set to play an even more central role. The Saudi company will be responsible for developing fully sustainable fuels, a factor that could prove decisive in differentiating performance between manufacturers. Together with the value of the Honda power unit, this will become one of the cornerstones of the car’s overall competitiveness.
“The AMR26 represents a decisive step for Aston Martin Aramco as we enter the new era of Formula 1 in 2026. These regulations mark the biggest reset the sport has seen in a generation, and we approach them with a clear ambition: to build a team capable of winning,” said Lawrence Stroll, who has provided the resources needed to create such an ambitious project.
“Every decision we make is intentional, considered, deliberate, and built around the direction we are heading in. This is also our first year as a true works team, supported by world-class partners like Honda, Aramco and Valvoline. With the AMR Technology Campus now complete, we have the people, facilities and long-term investment to compete with the best. Today marks another important milestone on that journey.”
This new beginning also represents the opportunity to start again with a blank sheet of paper. It is no coincidence that, from a technical standpoint, the AMR26 is so profoundly different from its predecessors—not only because of the regulation change, but also due to a greater willingness to take risks in key areas. These include extremely slim sidepods and suspension components that connect directly to the rear wing support pylon.
“2026 is a rare moment in Formula 1 because, for the first time, the chassis and power unit regulations are changing at the same time,” explained Adrian Newey, the “father” of the project, despite not having been able to follow its foundations from the very earliest stages, having joined the team only in March last year.
“With completely new regulations, the best philosophy is never immediately obvious, and understanding evolves as the car develops. With the AMR26 we have adopted a holistic approach: it is not about one standout component, but about how the entire package works together.”
Compared to the past, however, one element remains unchanged: the drivers. Once again, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will be at the wheel of Aston Martin’s latest creation. It is a pairing that knows the team well, aiming to look upwards and leave behind seasons marked by the feeling that Aston Martin was operating in a prolonged transitional phase.
As the AMR26 moves from the glitz of its Saudi reveal to the unforgiving heat of the Bahrain circuit, the expectations resting on its sleek green bodywork have never been higher. For Aston Martin, the 2026 season isn’t just another year on the calendar; it is the ultimate validation of Lawrence Stroll’s multi-million dollar gamble to assemble the “dream team” of F1 engineering. Whether the combination of Newey’s aerodynamic genius and Honda’s power can immediately challenge the established hierarchy remains the most anticipated storyline of the new year. For Alonso and Stroll, the tools for success have finally been delivered—now, the true test of this “holistic” masterpiece begins under the desert floodlights.
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