P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Adrian Newey says the development of his first Aston Martin F1 car started out “on the back foot by about four months” compared to the team’s rivals
Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin Formula 1 car development began about four months behind its rivals according to Newey’s own admission.
The AMR26 made a bold debut in the final hour of the penultimate day of the 2026 F1 test in Barcelona, showcasing unique design choices.
Newey mentioned in an interview on the Aston Martin F1 team’s website that rivals had a head start in testing after the 2026 windtunnel ban lifted on January 1.
The development faced delays waiting for the team’s new cutting-edge windtunnel to become operational, pushing the timeline further back.
With a compressed research and design cycle, Aston Martin faced challenges to get the AMR26 ready for the Barcelona shakedown, completing fewer laps than anticipated.
Newey described their chosen aerodynamic direction as potentially aggressive and unique, acknowledging it as a departure from the norm for Aston Martin.
Overall, it was a race against time to turn the AMR26 concept into a competitive reality on the F1 circuit.
