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Aston Martin’s preparations for the 2026 F1 season took a hit in Bahrain this morning as Fernando Alonso was seen throwing his gloves in frustration after a disappointing first run in the AMR26.
Through the extraordinary reputation of team principal Adrian Newey, Aston Martin’s new F1 car was one of the most highly anticipated challengers ahead of its unveiling earlier this week.
However, things haven’t quite gone to plan for the Silverstone-based racing outfit. After missing most of the Barcelona shakedown due to development delays, Aston Martin were hit by overheating issues during their first day of testing in Bahrain.
Lance Stroll managed to clock in just 36 laps at the wheel of the AMR26 yesterday because of the gremlins that had surfaced, and Fernando Alonso shared his fury with the calibre of F1 car he’s been given following his first laps in the new piece of machinery today.
Which midfield F1 team will be the surprise package in 2026? 🤔
Fernando Alonso threw his gloves in fury after first laps in the AMR26 at Bahrain test
According to an Instagram story by F1 journalist Antonio Lobato, the two-time world champion reacted to his first laps in the new AMR26 by throwing his gloves in the Aston Martin garages.
Over a picture of Alonso in the cockpit, Lobato wrote, “He gets out of the car, throws away the gloves; they’re not where they wanted to be, not even close.”
The fury from Alonso may stem from his recent comments about the upcoming F1 term potentially being his final season in the sport.
At 44 years old, the Spaniard is entering his 23rd season as an F1 driver, the most out of any other competitor in the sport by a long, long way.
Newey reportedly told Alonso that Aston Martin are now ‘months’ behind their F1 rivals on the grid, highlighting the severity of the issue that the British constructor are currently looking down the barrel of.
The 32-time Grand Prix is yet to make an official decision on his future in the sport. Alonso recently stated that he wants to wait until September to announce his intentions, despite the pressure that figures at Aston Martin are piling on him to decide quicker.
Prove me wrong: The end of the 2026 F1 season is the perfect time for Fernando Alonso to retire 👋
Lance Stroll highlighted the livery as the ‘best thing’ about the Aston Martin AMR26
In a separate Instagram story from Lobato, he asks Alonso’s counterpart, Lance Stroll, what the ‘best thing’ about Aston Martin’s new F1 car is.
The Canadian sarcastically replied, “The decoration is very nice,” which further draws attention to the struggles that the Silverstone-based team are currently experiencing.
Now, Stroll isn’t the most talkative driver on the grid as it is, but his silence over any other potential positives about the car speaks volumes.
The first day of testing in Bahrain was Stroll’s first proper run out in the new machine, after handing the car over to Alonso in Barcelona following the completion of just a handful of installation laps on the Thursday evening.
Newey and co certainly have their work cut out for them over the next few weeks, before the grid congregate in Australia for the 2026 season-opener.
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