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Adrian Newey has laid out the plans for Aston Martin’s recovery to staff members as they face a dreadful start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Newey, who will serve as Aston Martin team principal this year, has led the development of the AMR26 with Honda. There were high expectations placed on the team going into the season, but after testing, they are in crisis.
Reliability issues with the Honda power unit have put the Silverstone outfit four seconds behind their rivals, according to driver Lance Stroll. It is not just the engine that is the problem, however, as Jolyon Palmer says, not a ‘single aspect’ of the AMR26 is working.
Can Adrian Newey turn the Aston Martin AMR26 into a race-winning car in 2026?
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, there are serious doubts about the Silverstone outfit and whether they will be competitive. There have even been suggestions that Aston Martin will complete minimal distance in Melbourne and retire shortly after the formation lap.
Newey and Honda have begun the ‘recovery process’ at Aston Martin, but they know that their issues will not be an immediate fix.
Adrian Newey told Aston Martin staff not to expect ‘instant progress’ with 2026 recovery plan
A report from PlanetF1 details what Aston Martin are doing to bounce back from what was a shocking pre-season campaign, and what is set to be a difficult start to the 2026 season.
‘Sources’ suggest that Aston Martin could have a ‘quite steep’ upwards curve once they solve their problems with reliability. However, Newey has stressed that the team cannot expect miracles.
The team principal is said to have addressed staff on Monday. He stated that the recovery process has started, but ‘instant progress’ cannot be expected.
The report notes that the team is under the impression that the second half of the season will be ‘considerably brighter’. It will give Newey plenty of time to unlock the performance from the AMR26, but they will be in for a painful start to the year.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Aston Martin F1 team principal Adrian Newey
Aston Martin could be months behind their rivals in 2026
Aston Martin are hoping to have a normal weekend in Australia and get through the race, but they are not expected to be anywhere but the back of the grid.
In fact, Aston Martin’s updates are not guaranteed to work, which could make reports that they will not complete the Grand Prix quite likely.
What punishment should Aston Martin be given if they miss the Australian Grand Prix?
The team need time to fix their woes, and with 24 races on the calendar, they will have opportunities to work on the power unit and other components.
However, Honda’s issues could set Aston Martin back months. What was expected to be a potential title-challenging season is quickly turning into a nightmare.
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