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The Aston Martin AMR26 features extra cooling vents, which their rival Formula 1 teams do not need.
It was no secret that the 2026 Formula 1 testing did not go as planned for Aston Martin, as they ran into issues at Barcelona and Bahrain.
During the first pre-season test at the Barcelona shakedown, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were only able to complete 65 laps in the AMR26 across the five days.
The issues continued for Aston Martin across the two weeks of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, as the team ran into technical issues with the Honda engine, which they did not have enough spare parts for.
Across the six days of testing in Bahrain, Stroll and Alonso were only able to complete 334 laps, which put them 252 laps behind Cadillac in terms of laps completed at the Bahrain Test.
McLaren top the mileage charts after Bahrain testing 🏎️
But do any of these totals change your expectations for the season? 🤔
Adrian Newey’s design and Honda’s engine have led to overheating issues
For the 2026 season, Honda have become the power unit supplier for Aston Martin, after they stopped using the Mercedes power unit at the end of 2025.
According to Auto Motor Sport, Adrian Newey told the F1 commission that the RA262H has been suffering from overheating issues, and it lacks power.
It has been reported that the battery in the power unit is not capable of recuperating the maximum electric power of 350 kilowatts, and it is struggling to achieve the lower end of 250 kilowatts.
Newey’s design for the AMR26 has also come under scrutiny as he designed the rear end of the car to be really narrow, which is now riddled with extra cooling vents, which their rival teams do not need.
The design for the new era of Aston Martin Formula 1 car was also late due to the delays with the chassis, engine and gearbox.
A frank verdict from Stroll as Aston Martin look for answers 👀
Finish the sentence 'In Australia, Aston Martin will finish XX and XX'…
Honda’s engine is expected to be overweight
As well as lacking power, it has now been suggested that Honda have an extra issue with their 2026 Formula 1 power unit, it is overweight.
After the Bahrain test, the Formula 1 paddock suspected that Honda’s power unit was 15kg overweight, which also adds to their issues of being underpowered.
In terms of rankings for the 2026 Formula 1 power units, Mercedes and Ferrari have been put at the top of the pecking order, with Red Bull Ford, and Audi in third and fourth, followed by Honda in fifth.
Although Aston Martin now need improvements from Honda to make a step ahead of the 2026 season, it has been suggested that Newey’s drastic design is preventing Honda from making vital changes.
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