How Aston Martin’s 2026 season has played out so far
Aston Martin’s 2026 Formula 1 season has been difficult, with the team second to last in the Teams’ Championship after early reliability and performance issues. A major upgrade package introduced before the summer break showed promise in Hungary, where both drivers briefly competed with midfield rivals.
Aston Martin entered the 2026 season with significant challenges, including chassis and power unit issues that limited pre-season testing mileage. The team’s AMR26 struggled with chronic vibrations, forcing both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to complete minimal laps in the opening race in Australia. Despite incremental fixes, performance remained uncompetitive compared to rivals, leaving the squad at the bottom of the championship standings by mid-season.
The Monaco Grand Prix provided a rare highlight when Alonso secured a season-best P10 finish, though qualifying often left both drivers at the back of the grid. Alonso outperformed Stroll in race-day results, though Stroll’s P13 in Hungary—just ahead of Alonso—marked the first time the upgraded AMR26 competed with midfield teams. The team’s long-awaited upgrade package, introduced at the Hungaroring, delivered a noticeable performance boost, closing the gap to competitors for the first time in 2026.
Aston Martin’s difficulties were compounded by reliability problems with the Honda power unit, which restricted testing mileage to roughly a third of Mercedes’ total. The team’s late arrival to the Barcelona Shakedown and poor pre-season testing pace, particularly against Cadillac, underscored the scale of their early-season struggles. Team Principal Adrian Newey described the decision to delay the major upgrade as "painful," but the Hungary results suggested the gamble may have paid off.
With the summer break now underway, Aston Martin has expressed cautious optimism about the upgrade package’s potential. Alonso described the new baseline as a "good" starting point, while Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack emphasized focusing on incremental improvements in the remaining races. The team’s goal is to build on Hungary’s progress, though returning to podium contention—achieved as recently as 2023—remains a distant target given the current competitive gap.