Alonso: Aston Martin a month behind rivals after testing delays

Fernando Alonso warned that Aston Martin is roughly a month behind its rivals, missing early‑season tests in Barcelona and losing valuable data, which could hinder the car’s development for 2026.

Why it matters:

A solid testing schedule is essential for a new car. Teams that logged miles in January already have data on setup, reliability and aero. Falling a month behind squeezes Aston’s development window and forces them to chase issues later when track time is limited.

The details:

• Early testing: Rivals logged miles from Jan 9, giving them a month of data while Aston missed Barcelona.
• Data gap: Limited runs in Bahrain mean no continuous validation of suspension settings, sensor calibrations or tyre maps.
• Setup stall: Without clean, repeatable laps the car’s balance evolution is delayed, a key factor under the 2026 regs.

What's next:

Newey’s technical direction is already shaping the team’s response, with clearer debriefs and quicker fixes. Aston will squeeze the remaining winter testing and fast‑track part validation to close the data gap before the opener. Success will soften the early setback, but the month‑long lag remains a real challenge.