Fernando Alonso shares first impressions of 2026 F1 season as Aston Martin debuts in Barcelona. Fernando Alonso has shared his first impressions of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

Fernando Alonso has opened up about his initial impressions of the 2026 Formula 1 season and is ready to take the wheel of the new Aston Martin for the first time.

During the first five days of pre-season testing in Barcelona, two major teams have faced notable challenges: Williams, which will not run until Bahrain, and Aston Martin, which experienced delays assembling Adrian Newey’s first car for the season. The Silverstone team’s drivers only arrived at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday, January 29, giving Alonso the chance to reveal his earliest thoughts on the season ahead.

The challenging situation at Aston Martin

While Williams will sit out the Barcelona tests due to weight issues with their new FW48, Aston Martin is dealing with a very different problem. According to reports over the past few days, the development and assembly of the AMR26—the team’s 2026 car designed for the first time by the legendary engineer Adrian Newey—has been significantly delayed.

Although the team’s entire infrastructure was present at the circuit from Monday, the car only arrived late on Wednesday afternoon. From that moment, engineers have been racing against the clock to get some laps completed by both drivers. One of the biggest challenges has been that the new Honda Power Unit could not be run until the car was finally assembled, limiting testing opportunities.

Alonso’s first words ahead of the season

On Thursday afternoon, as he arrived at the circuit, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso spoke to journalists from the Spanish program Jugones on La Sexta. He confirmed Aston Martin’s plans for the fourth day of testing, explaining that the AMR26 would finally take to the track for a few laps.

“How does the AMR26 feel? I can’t say anything until I get in the car—there’s just excitement,” Fernando Alonso said. Naturally, fans of the Asturian driver are eagerly awaiting his 33rd Grand Prix win. Could it be possible with a car designed by Newey? “First, you need to get in the car and manage expectations. We focus on work first, and then we’ll see… Right now, I’m just happy to be back and driving again.”

Fernando Alonso also took a moment to thank his supporters: “Spanish fans have always been incredibly supportive over these 23 years, and I am always very grateful to them.”