Aston Martin’s sim driver has spotted something ‘crazy’ while driving Fernando Alonso’s 2026 F1 car

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Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso are holding out hope that F1’s 2026 regulations and the signing of design icon Adrian Newey can transform the team into title contenders.

The Silverstone outfit invested heavily in the 2026 F1 regulations early on, as next year’s vast overhaul of the rulebook could reset the pecking order. Never before has Formula 1 adopted such an extensive rules change, with new engine, aerodynamic, chassis and tyre regulations.

Aston Martin are even changing from a Mercedes engine customer into a factory team, with Honda leaving Red Bull for the crew owned by Lawrence Stroll. The Canadian billionaire also made Newey a 5% shareholder in Aston Martin to become their managing technical partner.

Aston Martin hope F1’s 2026 regulations, plus their changes with Honda and Newey coming on board, can transform their fortunes. The Silverstone squad have never won a Grand Prix, let alone the F1 drivers’ championship or constructors’ title, in the brand’s entire F1 history.

Felipe Drugovich feels like he’s ‘sitting on a rocket’ driving Aston Martin’s 2026 F1 rules car

Alonso also scored eight of Aston Martin’s nine all-time podiums during the 2023 F1 season alone after joining the squad from Alpine that term, but he has not returned to any rostrum since. So, the 2005 and 2006 champion hopes the 2026 regulations can return his third title.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich has already tested the team’s 2026 rules car in their simulator. The Brazilian has even felt like he is “sitting on a rocket” driving it, given the punch the Honda power unit produces out of the corners with the greater electrical output.

Drugovich said, via Auto Motor und Sport: “The car pushes like crazy out of the corners. You feel like you’re sitting on a rocket. It’s really fun in the corners because the high electric component means there’s always power.”

F1’s 2026 regulations deliver an increased electrical split from the power units, with a 50/50 split compared to the current 20/80 in favour of the internal combustion engine. It is widely expected that Mercedes will design the best 2026 F1 rules engine when the new era begins.

Felipe Drugovich admits that F1’s 2026 engine rules create a ‘sudden drop’ in power

Drugovich has also felt a potential issue from F1’s 2026 power unit regulations when testing Aston Martin’s new car with a Honda engine in their simulator, though. The 25-year-old has noticed a “sudden drop in power” from the Honda unit when pushing it on lengthy straights.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Felipe Drugovich from age to racing stats

The 2022 F2 champion added: “The sudden drop in power in the second half of the straight takes some getting used to.”

Drugovich’s concern matches long-held fears about the 2026 F1 power unit regulations that the increased 50/50 electrical/combustion split may cause drivers to run out of energy down lengthy straights, such as during the Italian Grand Prix with Monza’s 1,220-metre pit straight.

F1’s 2026 regulations are designed to produce up to 475hp from the battery and 575hp from the internal combustion engine. But the fears about drivers potentially running out of power on long straights also saw F1’s 2026 regulations include active aerodynamics on front wings.