The spotlight was firmly on Aston Martin F1 Team as it finally completed its first meaningful day of running with the AMR26 during Formula 1’s closed-door Barcelona shakedown — and Fernando Alonso emerged cautiously encouraged by what he experienced.
After arriving late to the five-day test and managing just five laps on Thursday, Aston Martin salvaged valuable mileage on the final day, with Alonso completing 61 laps according to unofficial timing.
A Late Start Under Heavy Scrutiny
Aston Martin’s Barcelona programme was always going to be closely watched. Not only is the AMR26 the team’s first true car under its new technical structure, but it also represents a clean-sheet project featuring:
- A brand-new Honda power unit
- Aston Martin’s first in-house gearbox
- The early influence of legendary designer Adrian Newey
The team arrived at the circuit on Wednesday evening, immediately sacrificing one of its permitted test days. When the AMR26 finally rolled out on Thursday afternoon, Lance Stroll completed just five laps before the car stopped on track, triggering concern across the paddock.
Alonso: “It Was a Positive Day”
Friday, however, told a different story.
“It was good,” Alonso said.
“Definitely excited to be back in the car after the winter and for us it’s the first day.”
The two-time world champion acknowledged Aston Martin’s lack of preparation compared to rivals, many of whom had completed filming days earlier in January.
“Some teams did filming days and then the whole week here in Barcelona,” he explained.
“But for us, it was really the very first day — so I think we had a positive one.”
Alonso highlighted the sheer volume of laps as the key takeaway.
“60-plus laps and the car is responding well. First day — and more to come.”
Learning a New Power Unit and Gearbox
Beyond mileage, Aston Martin faces one of the steepest learning curves on the grid. The AMR26 is powered by Honda — but not the same Honda operation that delivered championships with Red Bull earlier in the decade.
The engineers behind those title-winning engines have since been reassigned within Honda, making this effectively a new F1 project from scratch.
On top of that, Aston Martin has produced its own gearbox for the first time after years of using Mercedes’ complete rear-end package. While challenging, the move also offers freedom in suspension layout and overall car architecture.
The Newey Effect Already Felt
Arriving late to testing is nothing new for Adrian Newey-led projects, with the famed designer known for pushing development as far as possible before committing the car to track.
That presence alone appears to be lifting morale inside the garage.
“I think everyone is super motivated when we see him in the garage,” Alonso said.
“I see all the mechanics, everyone looking at him — trying to spot something he wants to improve.”
Alonso added that Newey’s influence extends beyond pure design.
“He’s always teaching us something.”
A Cautious but Encouraging Beginning
While lap times and performance comparisons remain largely irrelevant at this stage, Aston Martin’s priority was simply to get running — and Friday’s programme delivered that.
With limited testing time left before competitive running begins, the team will now focus on:
- Reliability
- Systems integration
- Understanding the Honda power unit
- Refining its baseline setup
The AMR26 may have arrived late, but Alonso’s feedback suggests the foundations are at least pointing in the right direction.
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What Comes Next for Aston Martin?
With Barcelona behind them, Aston Martin must now maximise every remaining kilometre before the season opener. The AMR26 is still in its infancy — but Alonso’s calm confidence suggests the team believes it has something worth developing.
Whether this ambitious reset pays off immediately or takes time will be one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2026 Formula 1 season.