Adrian Newey delivers a harsh assessment of Aston Martin, sharing bleak predictions for Alonso and Stroll ahead of the Melbourne weekend
A disastrous situation at Aston Martin. On the eve of the Australian GP, the opening round of the 2026 season (click here for schedule and weather updates), the Silverstone-based team appears to be confirming all the alarm bells that already rang during testing in Bahrain.
Following unsettling signs in Barcelona, the pre-season tests in Sakhir further exposed the English “green machine’s” glaring handling deficiencies, alongside the worst reliability record observed on the grid.
Following confirmed rumors of massive struggles with the Honda Power Unit (PU) fitted in the Aston Martin, Adrian Newey—the mastermind behind the 2026 single-seater—has now addressed the situation directly.
Newey’s Statement: “Alonso won’t exceed 25 laps, Stroll no more than 15”
Speaking at a press conference regarding the team’s struggles, Aston Martin Team Principal Adrian Newey explained: “The vibrations [observed during the Bahrain tests, ed.] are transmitted to the drivers’ fingers. Alonso believes he cannot complete more than 25 consecutive laps without risking permanent damage to his hands. Lance feels he can’t manage more than 15 laps before hitting that same threshold. I don’t see the point in not being completely open and honest about it”.
““We tried to focus on building a sound and robust architectural package. I believe we achieved that. Therefore, I feel the car possesses immense development potential”.
“Obviously, it will take time to fully unlock it. So, I think it is fair to say that we will be trailing the leaders here in Melbourne. Clearly, this isn’t where we want to be, but we do have the potential to make progress and become competitive “.
The biggest alarm bell for Aston Martin, however—beyond the car’s lack of on-track competitiveness—is ringing on the Power Unit front. Honda’s Koji Watanabe confirmed the ongoing issues: “This week, certain operational limitations will be applied to the power unit“.
Photos: Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
