Aston Martin are the only F1 team using Michael Schumacher-era suspension thanks to Adrian Newey

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Adrian Newey is the only 2026 F1 designer who has opted for a suspension concept first seen during the Michael Schumacher Ferrari era, according to Mark Hughes.

Newey’s radical car design choices caught the eye when Aston Martin’s AMR26 made its belated debut at the end of the Barcelona Shakedown in January.

In Australia, Newey said his chassis was one of the top five on the grid, a claim that has reportedly been met with internal scepticism. Regardless, Honda’s large power deficit has prevented Aston Martin from being remotely competitive in the early rounds.

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How Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin suspension is inspired by Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari

Writing on the official F1 website, Hughes explained that Newey has designed the upper and lower ‘wishbone’ legs in one piece, rather than separate pieces for the left and the right. Aston Martin are the only team who have gone in this direction.

Ferrari debuted this concept 25 years ago on Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F2001, a car that won 10 races and a world championship. Renault then used it on their 2002 entrant.

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Newey was working for McLaren in that period, but this is the first time he has ever opted for the Ferrari-style suspension.

The goal is to reduce resistance while retaining the same stiffness, which is important for grip and tyre wear. However, the design also limits the capacity for individual adjustments, compared to the ‘more traditional’ dual-leg approach.

And if the suspension is damaged, it will likely take longer to repair.

Adrian Newey absent again at the Miami Grand Prix

According to journalist Jorge Peiro, Newey is not travelling to the Miami Grand Prix this weekend. Mike Krack, trackside engineering director, will once again be the team’s spokesman.

Amid strong rumours that Jonathan Wheatley will join Aston Martin, Newey remains the team principal, but he has only attended one out of four races this year.

This demonstrates why Lawrence Stroll is keen to recruit Wheatley. Newey prefers to operate outside the spotlight and focus solely on car design, but that’s antithetical to his job title.

Even after an extended break, Honda have warned that Aston Martin won’t see improved performance in Miami, even if the engine should be more reliable. The team suffered five DNFs in the first three rounds.