Everything wrong with the AMR26

Article by Chanelle Yehia

It’s fair to say that 2026 so far has been a struggle for Aston Martin, who have consistently ranked last save for Cadillac. The lack of performance is especially disappointing considering Aston’s grand expectations for 2026; the team notably raised anticipation with their recruitment of Adrian Newey, one of the most successful racecar designers in F1. However, the AMR26 holds a suite of issues—from its engine to its chassis design—which have cost the team dearly on race weekends this season.

Honda’s Engine

Aston Martin began using a Honda power unit at the start of the 2026 season; the specific model in question is the Honda RA626H. During pre-season testing, there were many instances involving the Honda engine transmitting vibrations through the car’s chassis. This unveiled a host of issues ranging from car damage to driver safety.

According to Adrian Newey, the intense vibration caused key components of the car to fall off or come loose, such as tail lights, side mirrors, and battery casings. Those vibrations were also transmitted to the drivers’ hands via contact with the steering wheel, which posed a substantial health and safety risk; prolonged contact increased risks of permanent nerve damage. Both drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll experienced numbness and extreme discomfort when driving the car, so much so that they reportedly had to let go of the steering wheel during straights.

However, the vibration issues may not have been entirely Honda’s fault; the integration between the engine and the chassis likely exacerbated the issue. At Suzuka, Koji Watanabe, president of the Honda Racing Corporation, stated that “In the test on the [dynamometer] the vibration is an acceptable level, but once we integrate in the actual chassis, that vibration is getting much more than the test…” This could indicate that the chassis (or more specifically, the engine’s integration with the chassis) amplified the power unit’s vibrations.

Chassis & Synchronization

The AMR26’s chassis was, according to Adrian Newey, “a long way overweight”. One of the core reasons behind the inferiority was the lack of investment in the necessary engineering/design tools. According to Newey, “…at this team, there hasn’t been enough investment in engineering simulation tools—not just project management systems, but the core physics tools themselves.” While the team is beginning to invest more into these tools, the AMR26 still has uphill battles to climb.

At Barcelona, Fernando Alonso also shed light on a synchronization problem between the car’s transmission (gearbox) and the engine. Alonso, describing the problem, said that “In some corners it felt like pulling a handbrake, complete rear locking with both rear wheels fully locked. In other corners, I had what felt like half-throttle while braking, and then you just go straight on.” This engine-gearbox integration problem caused the AMR26 to be unpredictable, even when driving through the exact same corners, making it difficult for drivers to build confidence with the car.

Looking Forward

Aston Martin implemented a significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which included a new nose, revised rear suspension, and considerable weight reduction. While the overarching design of the gearbox and the chassis were kept the same, they were both reduced in weight. Additionally, Honda introduced a new engine spec at the Dutch Grand Prix.

These upgrades have brought some improved results: namely, Fernando Alonso’s P9 finish in Zandvoort, which successfully tripled the team’s existing points. Nevertheless, Aston Martin still habitually struggles on the racetrack: both cars failed to pass Q1 in Zandvoort, Alonso’s rear wing active aero failed during sprint qualifying, and the team remains second-to-last in the Constructors’ Championship with a 367% point deficit to Williams. Driver Lance Stroll said that the recent upgrades are “not nearly enough”.

Aston Martin have had a rough season thus far, and there is no shortage of work ahead of them either. Despite the high expectations, world-renowned racecar designer, and aggressive upgrade packages, the car is not performing at a highly competitive level. When the AMR26 was revealed at the beginning of the 2026 season, George Russell astutely noted that “it’s not a competition of how sexy it is. It’s a competition of how fast it goes around the track.” Aston Martin cannot just look promising; they must fight to keep up pace.