Aston Martin facing major gearbox concerns with the AMR26
The arrival of Adrian Newey to lead Aston Martin’s Formula 1 project was supposed to mark a decisive turning point with the AMR26. The reality, however, has been very different. The car is currently the slowest on the grid, with lap times sometimes comparable even to Formula 2 machinery. While rival teams continue introducing constant upgrades, the Silverstone-based outfit appears stuck at the starting line. The absolute priority now is solving the car’s structural problems before any meaningful performance gains can realistically be achieved.
Fernando Alonso delivers Aston Martin’s diagnosis
Pre-season testing in Bahrain had already painted a worrying picture, suggesting that the crisis could continue for a large portion of the season. Internally, there is growing belief that this lack of competitiveness may last for at least the opening ten or twelve Grands Prix of the year. The team is now targeting the summer break as the final deadline to introduce a deeply revised car finally capable of living up to expectations.
Fernando Alonso reportedly never expected such a difficult campaign in what was supposed to become Aston Martin’s breakthrough season. The Spanish driver has now identified the gearbox as the main issue requiring urgent attention ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Although the first signs of malfunction had already appeared during pre-season testing, the problems became even more visible throughout the Miami weekend.
The issue involves intermittent and abnormal gearbox behavior, noticeable both during downshifts and acceleration phases. This inconsistency removes the confidence drivers need to properly control the car, making it extremely difficult to drive. The gearbox has become particularly important this season because it plays a crucial role in maximizing the effectiveness of the new super-clipping system.
For the first time, Aston Martin is using an internally designed transmission following its switch to Honda power units. No longer relying on Mercedes gearbox supply, the Silverstone team was forced to face the challenges of developing its own transmission system — and so far, things clearly have not gone according to plan.
The instability of the gearbox is reportedly considered an even bigger issue than the lack of engine power itself. Initially, the strong vibrations generated by the power unit partially masked these transmission defects as well as other chassis limitations. Now that those vibrations appear to have been reduced, the team can finally focus more directly on improving power delivery and drivability.
The Honda partnership already creating major headaches
Ironically, the AMR26’s lack of outright speed is also hiding potential structural weaknesses within the chassis itself. When a car is running three or four seconds behind the leaders, many aerodynamic deficiencies simply do not become fully visible. Only once engine performance and cornering speeds improve will the real limitations of the overall project become completely apparent.
And it is precisely at that moment that Aston Martin engineers will have to prove they can correct the technical direction chosen for the AMR26. Both Aston Martin and Honda now appear to have accepted that no definitive solutions are likely to arrive before the summer shutdown. As a result, the first half of the season is effectively turning into an extended testing session under real race conditions.
The two-time Formula 1 world champion has reportedly been pushing hard behind the scenes at the factory, urging the team every week to intervene as quickly as possible — especially ahead of demanding circuits such as Montreal, which feature heavy braking zones. In Canada, any hesitation from the gearbox could easily result in contact with the walls given the unforgiving nature of the circuit.
The objective is to arrive at the end of August with a radically different car capable of fighting for far stronger positions. Until then, the team will focus on collecting data and understanding the interaction between the new Honda engine and Aston Martin’s internally developed transmission. Alonso’s patience is once again set to be tested while waiting for Newey and the engineering department to finally deliver results.
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