Aston Martin has decided to divide its technical team into two groups: one focused on the evolution of the AMR25, and one dedicated exclusively to the 2026 car. This tactic responds to the need to balance the present with the future. The AMR25 aims to match the level of competitiveness it had in 2023, while the team needs to be prepared for the regulatory revolution that will come from F1 in 2026. The arrival of Adrian Newey should mean that the team benefits from his experience not only in optimizing the current car but also in configuring the future AMR26.
The immediate challenge
The AMR25 is more than a change, the chassis, gearbox and rear suspension are the same but the aerodynamic modifications are significant, the aim has been to improve the slow curve, a point where the AMR24 had been very deficient, by relocating cooling elements on the Mercedes engine, allowing the redesign of the sides and a more extreme configuration.
The administration of the development budget has also influenced the context of this strategy. In 2024, Aston Martin devoted a large part of its resources to an attempt to improve an aerodynamic concept that failed. Learning from this, the team has decided to apply a more calculated formula to the AMR25. But the optimization process continues and the engineers understand that there is not enough time to extract the car’s true potential.
Aston Martin and the AMR26 challenge
The other major focus of attention at Silverstone is the 2026 car: AMR26 will be a completely new car, as it needs to adapt to the regulations of Formula 1 that will be used from that year onwards. But development is facing some delays because the infrastructure is arriving too late and the new technical recruits have either not yet joined the work or have just done so.
The new wind tunnel, at the Aston Martin Technology Campus, has not yet been fully calibrated, which is hindering the aerodynamic study of the AMR26. On the other hand, the hiring of Enrico Cardile as technical director is stalled by a dispute with Ferrari, which will delay his arrival until July. This means that the team will be forced to continue relying on the long experience of Adrian Newey, who will probably help to set the final course of the project.
Although these challenges are an inconvenience, Aston Martin has an exclusively designed Honda engine and Aramco’s e-fuel, the most advanced available. These elements could give them an advantage in the medium term; in any case, at Silverstone they admit that 2026 could be a season of transition.
Is Aston Martin aiming for 2026 to make the big leap?
With a team with one eye on the present and the other on 2026, the big question is when Aston Martin will be able to be a real contender for victory: Expectations for 2026 are high, but due to problems with the late arrival of specifications, or with learning the new rules, the team is confident that 2027 could be the year when their project shines, although they are not ruling anything out for next season. The current infrastructure, a reinforced technical team, especially with the arrival of Newey, and a partnership with Honda, gives them the opportunity to become a contender in the Formula 1 of the future. Now, the key will be to know how to manage these resources well so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.