P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin’s awful 2026 ‘surprise’ leaves F1 rivals laughing
Aston Martin’s performance during the F1 2026 pre-season testing faced heavy criticism from their rivals due to their lackluster results. The team was late to the Barcelona shakedown, managed only 65 laps, and encountered significant issues in Bahrain. Lance Stroll highlighted the team being four seconds off the top pace, and technical problems persisted with their new car and Honda partnership. Despite efforts to resolve issues, the team’s reputation suffered, with rivals acknowledging their struggles. Aston Martin faces a daunting challenge ahead of the 2026 season opener in Melbourne on March 8th, with hopes pinned on technical improvements to regain lost ground.
