P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The 2026 Aston Martin F1 car completed its first laps on Thursday and Friday with a blue warning light rather than a red one. What was that about?
During the initial laps of the new Aston Martin Formula 1 car in Barcelona, keen observers noticed the unconventional flashing blue central rear warning light instead of the usual red one. F1 technical regulations require cars to have rear warning lights, typically red, for safety purposes when specific conditions warrant it. Aston Martin’s decision to use a blue light puzzled many, sparking speculation about their strategy. The team’s choice was particularly perplexing given that experienced drivers like Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were behind the wheel. Aston Martin remained tight-lipped about the reasoning behind the blue light, but it was suggested that they might be implementing a unique run program for data collection purposes. This distinctive approach, including slower speeds on some runs, set Aston Martin apart during testing, raising questions about their testing objectives and technical considerations for the AMR26 car.
