Even Adrian Newey can’t undo the biggest mistake Aston Martin have made with their 2026 car

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Aston Martin find themselves behind the eight ball before the 2026 Formula 1 season has even kicked off. Honda’s preparations seem far from ideal.

A new engine partnership was meant to be promising for the Silverstone-based outfit, but instead, it appears to be creating a bit of a headache for Adrian Newey and his team.

After years of delivering Red Bull a very capable power unit, Honda should have plenty of experience heading into the 2026 F1 regulations.

They’ve had plenty of time to prepare, and they only have one team to work with in Aston Martin. If anything, their job is now easier, but there are challenges presented by the new rules.

Aston Martin appointing Adrian Newey as team principal WILL NOT WORK

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Honda have ‘growing concerns’ over their 2026 engine, and it appears that rival manufacturers have picked up a trick that they have missed.

The realisation that the next 12 months could be tough has led Newey and Aston Martin to prioritise 2027. So soon into the year, that’s a concern.

READ MORE: Damon Hill explains how Adrian Newey could pull off a ‘complete surprise’ at Aston Martin in 2026

Adrian Newey can’t undo Aston Martin’s big mistake to sign with Honda for 2026

Honda admitted they’re ‘struggling in many areas’, and that’s a concerning sign for Fernando Alonso in particular.

Remember the last time their Formula 1 programme slacked? Yeah, that was back in 2015 when they first rejoined the championship with McLaren.

They had a miserable time, and Alonso accused them of having a GP2 engine. The relationship that was already strained isn’t getting off to a great start here.

And this is the one situation Newey can’t do anything about, even as team principal. The deal was signed a long time ago, and is probably something he would reverse if he could have made the call himself.

What was wrong with sticking with Mercedes, who they had been in partnership with for so long? They’re renowned for starting regulations cycles really well.

Now they’re going to be starting the year on the back foot, and are at the mercy of Honda, who must rush to improve their new engine and play a game of catch-up.

READ MORE: Lawrence Stroll has identified his number one replacement if Fernando Alonso retires from F1

When was the last time that Aston Martin entered a season without a Mercedes engine?

Aston Martin were formerly many other teams before they were purchased by Lawrence Stroll. Most infamously, they were Force India for around 10 years.

Their first campaign was back in 2008, using an adapted Spyker chassis (their old team name), with a Ferrari power unit in the back.

They signed a Mercedes deal for 2009 and had stuck with them right until the end of 2025, which means that the last time Aston Martin used an engine other than a German one, rookie driver Arvid Lindblad was one year old.

The new journey they embark on in 2026 is going to be turbulent, and it looks as though there will be a lot of pressure from day one.