Aston Martin admits AMR26 early issues won’t be fixed overnight
Aston Martin’s new AMR26 logged the fewest laps in Bahrain testing and is estimated to be 3‑5 seconds off the leaders. Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa says the package’s problems span the whole car and won’t be resolved overnight, but the team is already working on upgrades.
Aston Martin’s AMR26 logged just 206 laps across three Bahrain days, the fewest of any team, and ambassador Pedro de la Rosa warned the early performance gap won’t be fixed overnight. The Silverstone crew says it’s on a steep learning curve, still learning the package.
Why it matters:
The AMR26 is Aston Martin’s 2024 flagship, built around Newey’s aero vision and a power unit that must match Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. Falling four seconds off the pace early could push the team into the midfield, eroding sponsor confidence.
The details:
- 206 laps across three Bahrain days – the lowest total among teams; Stroll estimates the car is 3‑5 seconds off the fastest time, with the exact gap still uncertain.
- Issues affect aero, energy harvesting and setup. Silverstone is already developing upgrades, but fixes will need multiple development cycles.
What’s next:
Mercedes and Red Bull will finish their packages in the coming weeks. Aston Martin will use the remaining pre‑season tests to validate upgrades and gather data. De la Rosa gave no timeline, saying only time will tell if the AMR26 can close the gap before the first race. The team’s confidence lies in its expanded staff, but the opening rounds will test how quickly the learning curve can be flattened.