Newey admits Aston Martin's late start 'bound to' cost team early in 2026

Adrian Newey has conceded that Aston Martin's delayed development of its 2026 Formula 1 car will likely hinder the team's performance at the start of the new era. The admission came as the team officially unveiled its green AMR26 livery, the first car designed under Newey's leadership, following a compressed development cycle that began months after rivals.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin has positioned the 2026 regulatory overhaul as its golden opportunity to become a championship contender, heavily investing in new facilities and securing the sport's most celebrated designer. A slow start due to internal delays could undermine this long-term project from the outset, testing the patience of its star driver Fernando Alonso and the ambitious Stroll ownership.

The details:

• Late Start: Newey confirmed the team's new wind tunnel was not operational until mid-to-late April 2025, a critical delay compared to rivals who began work on January 2. This put Aston Martin behind on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) work and overall car layout.
• Compressed Cycle: The AMR26 has been developed under a "very compressed" timeline for a season introducing all-new technical regulations, forcing the team to work on early-race updates and subsequent development packages simultaneously.
• New Foundations: The car represents several firsts: it's the first designed in-house in the new wind tunnel, the first with a team-built gearbox, and the first full collaboration with new power unit supplier Honda.
• Driver Temperance: Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll immediately managed expectations, emphasizing a need to "walk before running" and that fighting for wins from the season opener in Melbourne is unlikely.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the AMR26's performance during the final pre-season test in Bahrain. The team's primary goal for the early season will be understanding its new package and maximizing its development rate to close the gap. While the long-term pieces are in place, Aston Martin's initial challenge will be limiting the damage of its late start and proving its new technical structure can deliver rapid progress.