Williams boss James Vowles calls Adrian Newey's Aston Martin AMR26 suspension 'very extreme'
Williams F1 boss James Vowles has described the rear suspension on Adrian Newey's first Aston Martin, the AMR26, as "very extreme," praising the designer's creativity while hinting at its complexity. The design has become a major talking point in pre-season, as Newey's highly anticipated car takes to the track under the new 2026 regulations.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles has labeled the rear suspension design on Adrian Newey's first Aston Martin F1 car, the AMR26, as "very extreme," jokingly noting the legendary designer has placed wishbones "in places that I don't think they should be." The comment highlights the immediate technical intrigue surrounding Newey's highly anticipated 2026 challenger as pre-season testing unfolds.
Why it matters:
Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin was the biggest technical story of the 2025 season, and all eyes are on his first creation under the new 2026 regulations. When a rival team principal with extensive engineering experience at Mercedes like Vowles singles out a design as exceptionally creative and extreme, it signals a potentially significant and unconventional technical direction. This early paddock reaction sets the narrative for Aston Martin's development race and whether Newey's radical ideas will translate into on-track performance.
The details:
- The AMR26 stopped the paddock when it debuted at the Barcelona shakedown, with its rear suspension becoming a particular focal point for rivals and observers.
- Mercedes driver George Russell also noted the car as the most visually standout design of the new season, specifically referencing the rear suspension, though he cautioned that visual appeal doesn't guarantee lap time.
- Vowles, assessing the early test impressions, praised several teams:
- Red Bull-Ford Powertrains: For achieving remarkable reliability with a all-new power unit built from scratch.
- Ferrari SF-26: For its strong consistency, even if its ultimate pace remains a question mark.
- Mercedes W17: For delivering a robust and reliable package immediately, a hallmark of the team during regulation changes.
- On the AMR26, Vowles expressed deep admiration for Newey's creativity but hinted at the design's complexity, stating, "I wouldn't want to be the designer for that one."
- Williams' Own Approach: Vowles revealed Williams' FW48 features a "slightly different" front wishbone design. The team has confirmed a unique split suspension setup for 2026—a pullrod front and pushrod rear—making it the only team on the grid to mix the two philosophies. Most others have opted for double pushrod systems.
What's next:
The true competitive picture remains unclear, with Vowles and others expecting significant evolution before the season opener in Melbourne. Newey himself has confirmed the AMR26 will be "very different" by the Australian Grand Prix on March 8, indicating a major upgrade package is imminent. The 2026 season, the first under sweeping new chassis and power unit rules, is expected to see a ferocious development race, and Aston Martin's extreme starting concept will be one of the most watched narratives as teams converge their designs.