Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa has assessed that the team's 2026 chassis could rank as the fifth fastest at certain favorable circuits. The evaluation comes amid challenges with the new Honda power unit.
De la Rosa noted the limitations of the current setup. He said some circuits may see the car perform better while others could place it much further down the order. Adrian Newey, the chassis designer, previously highlighted a four-month delay in wind tunnel testing. The model entered the tunnel only in mid-April 2025, compared with rivals who started earlier in January. The team faced difficulties at the recent Monaco Grand Prix. It inherited one point after penalties but suffered from severe mid-corner understeer on the low-speed layout. De la Rosa indicated this issue appeared unique to Monaco and expressed surprise if it recurs elsewhere.