Aston Martin finally put its new AMR26 through a proper test during the Barcelona shakedown, with Fernando Alonso logging 61 laps on the final day after an initial setback. The team arrived late but expressed pride in overcoming major changes, including a new Honda partnership and in-house gearbox. Adrian Newey's influence motivated the squad amid the debut of his first design for the team.
The Barcelona shakedown for the 2026 Formula 1 season marked a significant milestone for Aston Martin, as the team navigated delays to debut its AMR26 car. Arriving late on the Wednesday evening of the five-day event, Aston Martin missed at least one of its permitted three running days. The car first emerged from the garage on Thursday afternoon, with Lance Stroll at the wheel, completing only five laps before grinding to a halt and causing a red flag.
Despite the inauspicious start, the team rebounded on the final day, Friday, when Fernando Alonso took over and ran 61 laps according to unofficial timing. "It was good," Alonso said. "Definitely excited to be back in the car after the winter and for us it's the first day. I know some of the teams did filming days as shakedowns at the beginning of January and then the whole week here in Barcelona – but for us it was really the very first day so I think we had a positive one. 60-plus laps and the car is responding well so first day and more to come."
The debut came amid substantial internal changes, including a shift to Honda as power unit partner after years with Mercedes, and the construction of Aston Martin's first in-house gearbox in many years. Chief trackside engineer Mike Krack highlighted the challenges: "We welcome Honda, our new engine partner... We have made our first gearbox in very many, many years, and you pair that with new chassis regulations, new power unit regulations – so basically you could say it's the worst case or the best case, but it's a huge change for us as a team."
Krack described the first run as emotional, noting the team's pride in making it to the test despite the late arrival. The logistics effort was notable, with the AMR26 rushed to Barcelona via a 50-year-old Antonov An-12BP cargo plane from Birmingham to Girona after overnight shifts at the Silverstone factory.
Adrian Newey, overseeing his first Aston Martin project, was seen scrutinizing details in the garage, boosting team motivation. "I think everyone is super motivated when we see him in the garage taking care of all the details," Alonso added. "He's always teaching us something."
The AMR26 features distinctive elements, such as a triangular airbox with 'Viking horns' echoing past designs by Newey and new chief technical officer Enrico Cardile. While the shakedown provided initial data, Aston Martin now looks ahead to further testing in Bahrain.
