P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin is gearing up for an assault on the F1 championships in 2026, with Adrian Newey explaining why one tool is particularly important.
Adrian Newey has highlighted F1 drivers as “wonderfully intuitive animals” in relation to Aston Martin’s new simulator designed to bring major advantages to the team.
Newey’s focus as managing technical partner for Aston’s car is on adapting to the upcoming technical regulations for 2026, leading the team into a new era.
Aston has made significant investments in a state-of-the-art factory and an all-new simulator, which Newey believes will require several years to fully optimize, as discussed during the Monaco GP earlier this year.
Given restrictions on on-track testing, the simulator has become a crucial tool for F1 teams to gather data and ensure optimal performance in trackside operations, according to Newey.
The driver remains a key component in the data-driven age of F1, as modern simulators are valuable engineering tools to evaluate setups and conduct research for future development, with the driver’s intuition playing a vital role in providing feedback and direction.
Newey underlines the essential nature of having the driver directly involved in the simulation process due to the inability to replicate the human experience and articulate the nuances of car behavior solely through synthetic models.
The combination of the driver’s input with data analysis allows teams to understand the car’s performance intricately and make informed decisions for enhancing its speed and efficiency, reinforcing the continued importance of the driver’s role in F1.
