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Aston Martin have been dealing with an issue where their Honda power unit has been shaking.
Heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season, hopes had been high for Aston Martin due to the arrival of Adrian Newey to the team as Team Principal.
However, the pre-season tests at Barcelona and Bahrain demonstrated just how far away from the front Aston Martin are.
In Barcelona, they participated in three of the six days, and in Bahrain, their test schedule was also cut short due to a lack of spare parts for the Honda power unit.
Can Adrian Newey turn the Aston Martin AMR26 into a race-winning car in 2026?
Nelson Valkenberg details the issues that will hold Aston Martin ‘back for months’
Whilst previewing the 2026 Formula 1 season on Nailing the Apex, Nelson Valkenberg discussed the issues that Aston Martin are facing.
He was very critical of how ‘late’ Aston Martin were to developing the AMR26 as they made poor decisions as their preparations went on.
Honda was late to the party after it decided to return to the sport, after originally stating it would no longer create power units for Formula 1. Also, the chassis of the AMR26 was delayed due to Adrian Newey’s delayed arrival to the team.
Valkenberg said, “They started late with the engine, because Honda turned its back on Formula 1 and then retraced their steps. So, the engine was late, and it has developed a fairly paralysing shake.
“It is basically shaking the hybrid component of the Honda engine apart, which is a major issue which will hold the team back for months.
“When Adrian Newey came in, in March, he was late as well. He then tore up a lot of the work that had been done on the new car. The new car is apparently overweight, the chassis is underdeveloped, its handling characteristics aren’t there, and they can’t develop it as the engine shakes itself apart.
“It is not just a Honda issue; this entire baby of Newey, Honda and Aston Martin is late on all fronts, is underdeveloped, and will be a major headache for the team.”
A frank verdict from Stroll as Aston Martin look for answers 👀
Finish the sentence 'In Australia, Aston Martin will finish XX and XX'…
Honda will supply updates to Aston Martin in Australia
There have been varying reports regarding Aston Martin’s expectations for the team’s performance at the Australian Grand Prix.
However, it has been confirmed that Honda will be supplying Aston Martin with updates at the season opener, but they are not ‘100%’ sure that the issues will be solved.
It has been suggested that Aston Martin will only complete the minimum number of laps before retiring from the Australian Grand Prix.
Former Formula 1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, has also warned the Aston Martin fans that fixes for the AMR26 ‘will take several months’ to implement.
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