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Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin F1 car immediately impressed observers as it rolled out of the garage for the first time at the Barcelona Shakedown. The problem was that it took so long to emerge.
The AMR26 only arrived at the circuit on Wednesday, three days into the test. Lance Stroll wouldn’t make it out onto the track until the closing stages of day four.
Even then, Stroll only trundled around for four laps before breaking down at the end of the pit lane. Karun Chandhok is amazed by Newey’s Aston Martin, but there’s no denying that the team are on the back foot when it comes to data-gathering.
The AMR26 has finally arrived in Barcelona! Is it too late to benefit from this test, though? 😬
What are your thoughts on Adrian Newey's first Aston Martin F1 car? 🤔
The Silverstone outfit released a statement on Monday confirming that they would arrive late to the test, but didn’t provide a reason.
Newey signed for Aston Martin in September 2024 and was cleared to start work the following March. In November, he was appointed team principal after winning a power struggle with predecessor Andy Cowell.
Martin Brundle says Adrian Newey pushes development ‘to the absolute limit’
Reports last week suggested that Aston Martin engine suppliers Honda weren’t completely ready for the new season. Newey confirmed to Martin Brundle that they were ‘playing catch-up’.
But Brundle also suspects that Newey has been pushing back deadlines to maximise development time. He has apparently been notorious for waiting until ‘the last moment’ to sign off parts.
While Newey may be prioritising success in 2027 given the disruption in the lead-up to this season, Brundle is confident in the team’s immediate prospects.
He told Sky’s day four review show: “Adrian was saying to me that Honda are having to play catch-up because they were leaving and then they came back in. There’s some question marks there.
Fill in the blank: Aston Martin will finish P_ in the 2026 F1 standings
“You just know that Adrian will have a vision of how to maximise these new regulations. Let’s hope he’s done it. Let’s hope that car just flies.
“He’s also legendary for not wanting to sign things off! When the car was late, it didn’t surprise me at all to be honest, because the long lead times, chassis, gearboxes, radiators and the sort of thing, Adrian will push that, and he always has done, to the absolute limit, because he wants the maximum amount of development on those pieces.
“If it absolutely takes off, then as ever, you can say, he got it absolutely right. He’s waited until the last moment before having to commit. I’m going to assume that that car will be pretty handy through the year.”
Martin Brundle’s Aston Martin theory is correct, based on F1 rumours
As reported by The Race, there are ‘suggestions’ that Newey has been ‘pushing things to the extreme’ in the factory. This may be why they arrived late.
It sounds, then, as if Brundle’s theory is correct. But as he points out, this story will be forgotten if Aston Martin make a competitive leap this year.
Based on a report last weekend, Aston Martin were one of the last teams to pass FIA crash tests, but this is unconfirmed. Williams are believed to have encountered similar difficulties before deciding to skip the Barcelona Shakedown altogether.
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