Fernando Alonso backs Adrian Newey era as Aston Martin brace for difficult 2026 start

Fernando Alonso has no doubt that Aston Martin’s long term destination is clear. With Adrian Newey now embedded at the team, Alonso believes the ultimate prize is inevitable, even if the road there begins on the back foot.

Aston Martin have been open about their early deficit following the first two pre season tests ahead of Formula One’s all new 2026 regulations. Compared to the teams they expect to be fighting in the new era, outright pace has been elusive, a reality underlined by a disrupted programme.

A late arrival at the Barcelona test limited the new AMR26 to just 65 laps, while last week’s running in Bahrain saw Aston Martin complete the fewest laps and set the slowest headline times. The mileage deficit reflects the scale of change underway, with the team simultaneously learning its first Newey designed car, a new Honda power unit and its first in house gearbox.

Asked what Newey is already contributing, Alonso was unequivocal.
“He has the experience. He has been in better times and tougher times, and I think we have a clear path of improvement,” Alonso said. “There are a lot of things we need to unlock. For us, this is really the first proper test because missing Barcelona was not ideal. We are going step by step and we’ve already identified areas to improve.”

That measured approach was always part of the plan. Aston Martin acknowledged at the car launch that the early phase of the season would be difficult, with performance expected to arrive later in the year.

“We said from the beginning that we might start on the back foot and be much stronger in the second part of the season, and I still believe that,” Alonso explained. “The second half of the year is when we need to be where we want to be.”

Before then, change is coming quickly. Newey has already indicated that the car Aston Martin bring to the season opening Australian Grand Prix will be significantly different from the version seen in testing.

“Melbourne’s car will be very different,” Alonso confirmed. “I’ve seen some pictures and Adrian said the same at the launch. He’s someone who, for more than 30 years in Formula One, has been dominating this sport. Eventually, we will have the best car. It’s just a matter of time, and we want that time to be as short as possible.”

Team mate Lance Stroll revealed during the Bahrain test that Aston Martin were as much as four and a half seconds off the leading pace. Alonso, however, insists the fundamentals are sound.

“Everything is running smoothly,” he said. “Of course we need to integrate the power unit and the first gearbox Aston Martin has ever produced. But aero performance and engine performance will still dominate lap time, and that’s where we need to unlock more.”

With just over 200 laps completed so far, Alonso admits the true picture is still unclear. What is certain, however, is that Aston Martin view 2026 not as a sprint, but as a carefully plotted climb, one they believe will ultimately end at the front.

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