P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin set to miss three days of Barcelona F1 2026 test
Aston Martin will miss the first three days of the F1 2026 pre-season test in Barcelona due to development delays. F1’s new cars are being tested behind closed doors over five days, with teams choosing any three days to participate between 26-30 January. Seven of the 11 teams, including McLaren and Ferrari, were present on the opening day, while Williams opted to skip the entire test. Aston Martin plans to run their AMR26 car on Thursday and Friday, pushing development to maximize design and car build time. The AMR26 is the first F1 car designed by Adrian Newey, who will also serve as team principal, with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll returning for the 2026 season. Alonso faces a significant decision regarding his F1 future as his contract expires at the end of the year.
