Aston Martin being ‘closely watched’ by F1 rivals with FIA on alert after Barcelona shakedown

Follow us on Google Discover

Official pre-season testing kicks off in Bahrain this week, and the 11 F1 teams are already closely scrutinising each other.

The teams have been working tirelessly to perfect the regulations changes and find extra tenths of a second. That is what Mercedes are rumoured to have done, having found a loophole in the compression ratio of the power unit.

It was said that Mercedes and Red Bull knew about the trick, which could gain them several tenths per lap. However, it is now reported that Red Bull have u-turned on the loophole and are planning to protest with Ferrari, Audi and Honda to the FIA.

The 2026 F1 liveries are all locked in 🔥

Which team nailed it and which team REALLY missed? 👇

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Toto Wolff defiantly defended Mercedes, telling his rivals to focus on their own efforts rather than penalise his team for exploiting the regulations. The Silver Arrows and customer teams McLaren, Alpine and Williams could be in a strong position with the loophole.

But it is not just Mercedes that are being watched by their rivals heading into pre-season, as Aston Martin have caused a stir with their 2026 challenger.

Aston Martin are being ‘closely watched’ in Bahrain after rivals feel they have pushed the boundaries

The Silverstone squad are hoping to return to the front of the grid with Adrian Newey and Honda spearheading their operation. Aston Martin unveiled the AMR26 on Monday, having tested the car in Barcelona with the other 10 teams.

They may have missed the opening three days of the test due to development issues, but that did not stop Aston Martin from turning heads in the paddock. Mercedes described the AMR26 as ‘adventurous’ when it hit the track.

History in the making: Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin design, the AMR26, is here🔥

Is this the car that finally changes Aston Martin’s trajectory? ⬇️

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Newey has clearly gone in his own direction with the car’s design, given his expertise with regulation changes. For example, Newey has enhanced the RB19’s suspension for Aston Martin, using his previous Red Bull concepts in 2026.

Naturally, Newey’s car ‘attracted attention’ from their rivals, as per a report from RacingNews365. Some think that Aston Martin are ‘pushing the boundaries of the regulations’.

So much so that the teams are ‘closely watching’ their Silverstone rivals in Bahrain and what Newey will bring to the test. The FIA is almost certain to keep tabs on Aston Martin, but the same goes for the rest of the field.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Adrian Newey is being secretive about his 2026 car

Gary Anderson has praised Newey for his originality with his car design. He is clearly doing this his own way, and given his track record in F1, it is no surprise to see teams watching his efforts closely.

Aston Martin need a resurgence in 2026. They could only manage seventh in the standings as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled to score consistent points.

But no one will truly know where the team stands until they take to the grid at the Australian Grand Prix in March. Newey did not speak to journalists at the AMR26’s launch, having been late to the presentation before rushing off straight after.

The Brit is being secretive about his design and where Aston Martin stands in the pecking order. Only time will tell if Alonso and Stroll have a winning car in 2026.