Aston Martin was the last team on Monday to pull the cover off its new 2026 car. In Barcelona the AMR26 — the first car penned by chief designer Adrian Newey — already ran in camouflage, but now the final livery is known. Newey himself calls it a strong foundation for future success; the Brit, now also team principal at Aston Martin, wants to put the team in a position to keep developing continuously.
The Aston Martin launch took place in Saudi Arabia, during a lavish opening night at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, an architectural statement on the Saudi coast. The AMR26 reveal was equally theatrical: it was accompanied by classical music from celebrated film composer Hans Zimmer. Aston Martin wanted to underline the importance of this new F1 era, Newey explained.
Radical design
“2026 is a rare moment in Formula 1, because for the first time the regulations for chassis and power unit have changed at the same time,” he explained. “With completely new regulations the optimum philosophy is never immediately obvious; your understanding evolves as the car develops.” Precisely for that reason Newey placed the emphasis on a strong base, with enough scope for further development. In recent years that has been a sticking point for Aston Martin; the car often arrived at the start of the season looking competitive, but left little room for innovation as the campaign progressed.
During the shakedown in Barcelona it was already clear that Adrian Newey has made bold choices on the engine cover, the cut-outs in the sidepods, the distinctive front wing and a host of other aerodynamic details. This, however, is only the first version of the new car. In Australia we will see an even more aggressive design, the designer promised earlier. Observers were most impressed by the rear suspension: the upper wishbones of the pushrods are high-mounted and tie in where the rear wing is affixed.
Holistic approach
“With the AMR26 we have taken a holistic approach,” Newey said. “It’s not about one standout component but how the complete package works together. The focus was on a strong foundation, development potential and a car that Lance (Stroll, ed.) and Fernando (Alonso, ed.) can hopefully deliver consistent performances with.” Team owner Lawrence Stroll, who has pushed for a spot at the front for years, said he has faith in that long-awaited turnaround. “Our ambitions are clear: to build a team capable of winning,” he added forcefully.
“This year is also our first season as a full factory team, supported by partners such as Honda, Aramco and Valvoline,” he continued. “With the AMR Technology Campus now complete, we have the people, the facilities and the long-term investment to compete with the very best. Today is another important milestone on that path.”
