Fernando Alonso has reaffirmed his unwavering trust in Aston Martin’s team principal, Adrian Newey, asserting that Newey’s ability to engineer a Formula 1 car has not diminished despite a challenging pre-season period.
This year sees the introduction of extensive new regulations in F1, making the competitive standings largely unpredictable, yet initial observations suggest Aston Martin is significantly trailing.
This situation stems from a cascade of issues encountered during preparations for 2026: it commenced with a four-month delay to their wind tunnel operations, which only began in mid-April 2025. This placed the Silverstone-based team considerably behind schedule, and at the season’s inaugural collective shakedown in Barcelona, they didn’t commence track testing until the fourth day, resulting in fewer laps than other competitors.
Aston also accumulated minimal mileage during last week’s Bahrain test; on day one, a power unit malfunction limited Lance Stroll to a mere 36 laps, and the team subsequently lost much of day three due to another mechanical fault. While Alonso experienced a more productive day two with 98 laps, his fastest time was the second slowest overall, prompting Stroll to declare, “we’re four seconds off” in a remarkably somber interview.
The predicament is intensified by the high expectations Aston Martin held when entering the new regulatory cycle: they became a Honda works’ team and secured F1 design legend Newey to conceptualize their car after his arrival in early 2025. Nevertheless, Alonso remains largely unfazed by the current circumstances, primarily because of his boss, who boasts 12 championship-winning cars on his resume. When asked about his continued faith in the team, the Spanish driver simply responded with “yes.”
“My conviction is particularly strong regarding the chassis,” the two-time world champion clarified. “The power unit, however, presents a greater challenge as we’re still developing our comprehension of the new regulations and their specific requirements.”
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
“However, regarding the chassis, there is absolutely no doubt. With Adrian having been a dominant force in the sport for over three decades, it’s inconceivable that he would lose his expertise in just a single year.
“I’m currently unsure of our exact position concerning the chassis and overall grip, but even if we’re not performing at our peak right now, we’ll quickly reach it once we resolve any power unit issues. We simply need to allow time to assess our current standing and, if we’re trailing, to make improvements as swiftly as possible.”
Aston Martin’s ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa, noted that Newey’s arrival has had a pervasive effect throughout the team, with de la Rosa especially commending the British engineer’s reaction to the Bahrain test outcomes.
“While the personnel largely remain unchanged, Adrian’s presence has brought an undeniable leadership,” the former F1 driver remarked on the third day of testing.
“This marks the most significant change. For instance, I experienced it yesterday following a challenging day of testing in Bahrain; when he addressed the technical debrief, his command was so absolute that every team member gained clear direction on their responsibilities.
“This stands in stark contrast to prior seasons, where various individuals might hold differing opinions on strategy. Adrian provides extremely precise instructions on the necessary actions, and no one disputes his directives.
Pedro de la Rosa of Spain, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“Consequently, a vast collective effort is channeled towards a singular objective. I understand this might seem implausible, but witnessing that moment and hearing his address was profoundly motivating for everyone involved. This is particularly true during adversity; when performance is strong, leadership is less critical, but it becomes indispensable when challenges arise.”
De la Rosa’s confidence in Newey is such that he does not consider Aston Martin to be in a crisis, maintaining conviction that the team can reverse its fortunes.
“I view Adrian’s presence in the team as a pivotal moment,” de la Rosa further explained. “Candidly, we are dissatisfied. No one rejoices at being two seconds off their anticipated pace. However, it’s also accurate to say that there’s no widespread concern. It’s a distinct situation. We’re displeased, certainly, but we’re not thinking, ‘This is insurmountable; there’s no hope’.”
