Aston Martin believes it has begun to change the course of its Formula 1 season, after a start that Adrian Newey described as ‘disastrous’. The designer stated that the partnership with Honda emerged stronger from the difficulties faced throughout 2026.
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According to Newey, the problems in the first part of the championship brought the team and the Japanese manufacturer closer, creating a stronger working relationship. The expectation is that this integration will contribute to the performance evolution in the upcoming stages of the season.
Honda returned to Formula 1 this year as Aston Martin’s power unit supplier but faced several setbacks. The power unit showed reliability failures, performance deficits, and also suffered from a vibration problem that raised concerns about possible physical damage to the drivers. At the same time, the Aston Martin car also did not prove competitive.
During a conversation with the press over the Hungarian GP weekend, Newey stated that the main progress happened behind the scenes: “What really progressed was precisely the word you used: relationship. From a start that can only be called disastrous, the positive side, because we always try to find something positive, is that this brought Honda and AMR very close. We continue developing this relationship in all areas. I am very pleased with the progress we are making from the relationship point of view. Usually, when relationships improve, performance also improves,” said the renowned designer.
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The next stage of this process will be the introduction of an updated power unit at the Dutch GP, after the August break. The new engine has already been used during a filming day by Aston Martin at the Hungaroring, while the team also debuted an upgrade package at the Hungarian GP, praised by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso reached Q2 for the first time this season, while Stroll finished 13th, his best result of the year.
Newey believes the updates represent an important advance, although he acknowledges there is still much work ahead: “The technical evolution, both of the car we brought here (Hungary), and the updates that will arrive in Zandvoort and then in Baku, are very significant. We are clearly trying to recover lost ground. Will this make us the fastest car? Unfortunately not. But does it represent an important step compared to where we were? Yes, I believe so,” concluded the current Aston Martin chief.
