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Aston Martin’s start to the 2026 F1 season has been so dire that their ‘future’ in the sport is now in doubt, according to one reporter. Lawrence Stroll’s team are bottom of the constructors’ standings without a point to their name.
Perhaps the biggest embarrassment for Aston is they are below Cadillac, a brand-new team, in the table. They have suffered five retirements in the opening three rounds, with Fernando Alonso finally reaching the chequered flag at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Aston Martin were long seen as dark horses for the post-2025 era given Stroll’s enormous investment. They hoped to win races this year and compete for the title in 2027, but they are further than ever from those objectives.
Is Jonathan Wheatley the right man to get Aston Martin back on track in 2026?
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Lawrence Stroll needs convincing to continue with Aston Martin F1 project
According to sport.de’s Felix Gorner, Aston Martin are ‘fighting for their future’ in F1 as a team. The situation is described as ‘truly dramatic’.
While the team’s prize money will likely take a significant hit this year – they finished seventh in the 2025 standings and are likely to fall at least three places – there’s no sign of genuine financial concern.
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Instead, Gorner is likely referring to Stroll’s waning interest in F1. After investing the best part of £1bn for his team to go sharply backwards, he may be inclined to cut his losses.
It has recently been reported that Chinese car company BYD want to join the F1 grid, and it’s possible that they will make an offer for Aston Martin if Stroll invites such approaches. The team, in conjunction with engine suppliers Honda, must correct their trajectory quickly to avoid that outcome.
Aston Martin have already given up on the 2026 F1 season
Gorner adds that team principal Adrian Newey has ‘written off Aston Martin’s season’ already, just three races into a 22-race schedule. He believes they have set a ‘world record’ for giving up on an entire F1 campaign.
It’s not unusual for a team to prioritise the following year, but it’s more common during a transition between rulesets, rather than the start of a new era.
Even before Aston Martin’s delayed arrival at pre-season testing, there were indications that Newey wasn’t expecting ‘success’ in 2026. But the on-track outlook is worse than anyone feared.
The expectation is that Newey will be replaced as team principal when a suitable option is available, returning to his previous role as managing technical partner. Jonathan Wheatley, who has just left Audi, is the strong favourite to fill that position.
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