Montoya: Aston Martin hiding true pace under Newey
Juan Pablo Montoya suspects Adrian Newey's Aston Martin is sandbagging, hiding the true pace of the AMR26 after a quiet pre-season. Citing Newey's history of pessimism and secrecy, Montoya believes the team's testing struggles are strategic, with the real performance package saved for the Australian GP.
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has suggested Aston Martin and Adrian Newey are deliberately concealing the true performance of the new AMR26 after a subdued pre-season testing program. The team, now in its first season with Newey as team principal and designer, completed minimal laps in Barcelona and appeared off the pace in Bahrain, but Montoya believes this is classic strategic deception ahead of the season opener.
Why it matters:
Adrian Newey's first project since leaving Red Bull is one of the most anticipated technical stories of the 2026 season. If Montoya's sandbagging theory is correct, it means a major competitive shake-up could be imminent, potentially vaulting Aston Martin from the back of the timing sheets to the front. If incorrect, it signals a concerning start to a new era for the Silverstone-based team.
The details:
- Testing Disappointment: Aston Martin's pre-season was marked by limited running and poor lap times. The team managed only 66 laps in Barcelona, and driver Lance Stroll later stated the car needed to find "four more seconds" after the Bahrain test.
- Montoya's Theory: The Colombian driver, who has worked with Newey in the past, argues the design legend is a known pessimist who never shows his hand in testing. "Knowing Adrian Newey, he is going to wait in Melbourne to run the package. Adrian is not going to run anything in the test," Montoya told Vision4Sport.
- A Newey Trait: Montoya emphasized that Newey's perpetual dissatisfaction is a key to his success, recalling that even during Red Bull's dominant seasons, Newey was never fully happy with the car. This mindset, Montoya implies, leads to extreme secrecy and strategic patience.
- Broader Grid Speculation: Montoya also noted the similar appearance of other 2026 cars, suggesting either no team has found a breakthrough advantage, or everyone is hiding their real performance—with Aston Martin potentially being the prime candidate.
What's next:
All speculation will be put to rest at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8th. The race weekend in Melbourne will reveal whether Aston Martin's testing woes were a genuine performance deficit or a masterful bluff by one of F1's greatest designers. The team's dynamics have already undergone a significant shift under Newey's leadership, and the first qualifying session will show if that change has translated into speed.