Power‑unit anomaly halts Aston Martin’s on‑track running in Bahrain

Aston Martin pulled Lance Stroll’s AMR26 from the Bahrain practice sessions after a data anomaly in the power unit surfaced during the morning run. The Silverstone‑based team is now conducting precautionary checks before the driver can get back on track. Stroll has logged 36 laps with a best time of 1:39.883 so far.

Why it matters:

• Power‑unit reliability is critical for Aston Martin’s 2026 development timeline.
• Missing track time hampers Stroll’s preparation for qualifying and the race.
• The issue could hint at deeper problems with the new hybrid system that powers the AMR26.

The details:

• The anomaly was flagged by telemetry after the morning session, showing irregular spikes in the kinetic energy recovery system (MGU‑K) data.
• Engineers are inspecting the MGU‑H, energy store, and software calibration to pinpoint the root cause.
• Stroll completed 36 laps, posting a fastest lap of 1:39.883 before the halt.
• The team will run a diagnostic program in the garage while the rest of the field continues on track.
• If the problem persists, a backup power‑unit may be installed, which could affect performance balance.

What's next:

• Aston Martin aims to resolve the issue before the afternoon sprint qualifying session.
• A delay could force Stroll to miss further practice, leaving him at a disadvantage for the race weekend.
• The team will provide an update to the FIA and fans as soon as the checks are complete.