Aston Martin acknowledges it is currently “not competitive” with other Formula 1 teams following a particularly poor beginning to pre-season testing, as stated by Mike Krack.
Extensive rule changes have been introduced this year, leaving the precise hierarchy for 2026 largely uncertain. However, it is evident that Aston Martin is significantly lagging behind its rivals.
The team based in Silverstone has been plagued by one setback after another, commencing with its 2026 car’s wind-tunnel development program experiencing a four-month delay. This delay consequently impacted their schedule, preventing Aston Martin from commencing track activity until the fourth day of this year’s inaugural collective shakedown in Barcelona.
The situation worsened during Bahrain testing this week: Lance Stroll managed only 36 laps on the first day due to an engine malfunction, then subsequently missed a significant portion of day three’s sessions because of a mechanical issue.
Day two showed improvement for Fernando Alonso, who completed 98 laps, but the two-time F1 champion recorded the second slowest time on the very day Stroll declared the team to be “four seconds off” the pace.
While determining precise performance gaps is challenging given the usual uncertainties of testing, Krack, who served as Aston’s team principal from 2022 to 2024, confirmed that these concerns are shared throughout the squad. “The primary takeaway from this week is that substantial effort is required,” Krack noted.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
“We have a newly developed vehicle, a revised configuration, and a new collaborator – or several new collaborators – and ensuring everything functions cohesively is essential. Therefore, extensive effort lies ahead, and we’ve recognized this week that we are not performing at the same standard as our competitors. However, I believe the overall design has potential, and we must strive diligently to realize it.”
This situation is particularly frustrating for Aston, considering the high expectations surrounding the team’s entry into the new era; George Russell even suggested the Silverstone-based squad possessed the capability to challenge the leading four teams: McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari.
These predictions were fuelled by the involvement of F1 legend Adrian Newey, now the team principal, in designing the 2026 car, coupled with becoming a Honda factory team and receiving substantial investment from billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll.
Nevertheless, Newey’s presence alone does not guarantee victory, and team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa confirmed that issues permeated all aspects of the AMR26.
“We are distinctly behind,” the former F1 driver acknowledged. “As Lance indicated, we are trailing by four, three, or five [seconds]. In truth, the exact time difference isn’t the most critical aspect right now.
“The imperative is to unleash performance. Yes, every team faces challenges, but we are clearly lagging, and when you are losing or lacking such a significant amount of time, it unequivocally points to the entire system – we cannot pinpoint it to just one element or another.
Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Many areas have been unequivocally identified, and we are actively working at Silverstone to resolve these concerns.”
Consequently, Aston will require patience to reverse its current fortunes, yet de la Rosa remains optimistic about its potential for success, given the comprehensive resources at the team’s disposal.
“This will not be an immediate correction,” he stated. “It’s not a quick fix. It clearly entails significant effort, extensive learning, and considerable refinement. However, we are confident in our team, our resources, and that all necessary elements are in place.
“Therefore, although we have not yet reached our desired position, we possess the right personnel, which is the most crucial factor. We are considerably better equipped now than last year or the year prior, when I joined the team, to initiate a turnaround and make a significant impact.”
Further contributions by Filip Cleeren
