Aston Martin F1 drivers are so slow in the corners that they’re accidentally charging their battery

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Aston Martin’s lack of performance might actually be helping their engine recovery efforts, according to a report.

Aston Martin are bottom of the constructors’ championship as one of two teams without a point, alongside newcomers Cadillac. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are 21st and 22nd respectively in the standings.

Neither Aston driver has escaped Q1 this year in either the Sprint or Grand Prix format. The Honda engine is known to be underpowered, while the chassis also requires major improvement.

Aston Martin have discovered ‘curious’ energy recovery quirk with Honda’s F1 engine

According to Motorsport Italia, Aston Martin’s plight has highlighted a ‘curious’ aspect of the 2026 F1 rules. Because they aren’t ‘particularly effective’ in the corners, it’s actually ‘easier’ to recover and maintain energy.

F1 drivers have complained this year they have to hold back in the corners under the new regulations so they maintain charge for the rest of the lap, but this isn’t a concern for Alonso and Stroll. The AMR26 is simply slow by nature.

When will Aston Martin score their first podium of the Adrian Newey era?

And will they get one at all?

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Aston Martin have admitted that they are ‘not good’ in high-speed corners, which do most of the damage when it comes to energy use.

Data from the first three races showed that Aston Martin are up to 12mph slower than other teams in the turns. The lack of power from the Honda engine limits their entry speed, but they also struggle with through-corner speed and exits.

F1 teams just agreed to give Honda extra help

Alonso says Aston Martin won’t bring a major upgrade until at least round 12 – the Dutch GP just after the summer break. The idea is to deliver a transformative package all at once rather than seek less impactful, incremental gains.

Until then, the two-time world champion will likely have no realistic chance of scoring points, barring one of the most chaotic races in recent F1 history.

But in better news, F1 teams have agreed that engine manufacturers should receive extra assistance if they are at least 10% off the pace. Initially, the thresholds for Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) were set at two percent and four percent.

The new measures are clearly aimed at Honda on the basis that their struggles are bad for the sport.

Based on Honda’s success with Red Bull, rivals may regret helping them one day, but that’s a remote prospect for now.