Despite the issues Aston Martin has faced during the first races of the 2026 season, Fernando Alonso is not losing hope and continues to place his trust in Adrian Newey.
The Aston Martin team, led by Adrian Newey, has experienced an extremely challenging start to the 2026 season, but the Spanish driver maintains full confidence in his Team Principal. Alonso emphasizes that the legendary British designer has not forgotten how to create a winning Formula 1 car.
The major regulatory changes introduced this year have made predicting the hierarchy of teams difficult, and early signs indicate Aston Martin is struggling compared to its rivals. The problems began with the wind tunnel program, which started four months late in April 2025, forcing the Silverstone-based team to try to catch up. At the first collective shakedown in Barcelona, the team only took to the track on the fourth day, completing fewer kilometers than competitors.
Testing in Bahrain was also far from straightforward. On the first day, a Power Unit problem limited Lance Stroll to just 36 laps, while additional mechanical issues on the third day further restricted mileage. Fernando Alonso had a better second day, completing 98 laps, but recorded the second slowest lap of the session, while Stroll admitted in a modest interview: “We are four seconds off the top teams.”
Alonso remains confident
Despite the difficulties, Alonso is not worried, especially because of Adrian Newey’s presence, the designer behind 12 world championship-winning cars. When asked about his confidence in the team, Alonso simply replied: “Yes.”
“Especially regarding the chassis,” added the two-time world champion. “The Power Unit is a bit more complicated because we still don’t fully understand the new rules and technical requirements. But for the chassis, there are no doubts. After more than 30 years of dominating this sport, Adrian isn’t going to forget everything in just one year. I don’t know exactly where we stand with the chassis and the level of grip, but even if we’re not at 100%, we will be soon, because we will solve any issues related to the Power Unit. It just takes time to understand where we are, and if we are behind, to improve as quickly as possible.”
The team ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa, also highlighted the immediate impact of Newey within Aston Martin, particularly during Bahrain testing: “We are the same people, with the same skills; the only change is that since Adrian arrived, his leadership is indisputable,” explained the former F1 driver.
“Before, everyone had their own theories about how things should be done. Adrian is very clear about what needs to be done, and no one questions his decisions. That way, all resources work in a single direction. I know it might not seem convincing, but believe me, seeing this situation has been very motivating, especially when things go wrong. When everything goes well, a leader isn’t necessary; it’s in the difficult moments that a leader makes the difference.”
De la Rosa is so confident in Adrian Newey that he doesn’t think the situation is hopeless for Aston Martin. “Having Adrian in the team is a turning point,” he added. “We are not happy, let’s be clear. No one is satisfied when you are two seconds slower than expected. But it’s also true that no one is panicking. We’re not satisfied, but it’s not a case of saying it’s over.”
The unwavering support from both Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa suggests that while the AMR26’s current pace is underwhelming, the internal culture at Aston Martin has been fundamentally transformed by Adrian Newey. By consolidating the technical direction and eliminating the “war of theories” in the garage, Newey has created a stable platform for recovery that many other struggling teams lack. If Alonso is correct and the chassis remains fundamentally sound, the battle for Aston Martin in 2026 will not be about whether they can catch up, but how quickly the Honda Power Unit integration can match the genius of Newey’s aerodynamic design.
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