Adrian Newey, Aston Martin's new design chief, has described his team's eye-catching AMR26 as a holistic interpretation of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations rather than an aggressive one. The car, unveiled during the Barcelona shakedown, drew praise from rivals for its unique suspension and packaging. However, Newey cautioned that its success remains uncertain amid a compressed development timeline.
The AMR26 made its debut on the penultimate day of the Barcelona shakedown, featuring a distinctive engine cover, sidepod design, and radical suspension geometry. This first outing for Newey at Aston Martin, after joining in March 2025, immediately caught the attention of competitors. Mercedes driver George Russell called it “spectacular” and the “most standout car design,” while Williams team principal James Vowles praised its creativity: “It's really impressive. Adrian is just a creative designer. And it's really impressive what he's done with wishbones in places that I don't think they should be. But he's done them.”
In a Q&A on Aston Martin's website, Newey explained his approach: “We took a really close look at the regulations and what we believe we want to achieve from a flow field perspective to suit them, and from there started to evolve a geometry that attempts to create the flow fields that we want. It's very much a holistic approach.” He rejected the 'aggressive' label: “I never look at any of my designs as aggressive. I just get on with things and pursue what we feel is the right direction.”
The project faced challenges, including a four-month delay in getting the wind tunnel operational until mid-April 2025, putting Aston Martin behind rivals who began testing earlier. Newey noted: “With a completely new set of regulations, nobody is ever sure what the right philosophy is. We certainly aren't sure what the best interpretation of the regulations is and therefore the best philosophy to follow.” The team focused on tight packaging and fundamentals to allow for future development, with Newey hinting the car will evolve significantly before the Melbourne opener.
McLaren's Lando Norris echoed the uncertainty of the 2026 rules overhaul, saying teams must accept others may innovate better: “You always have to be willing to accept that sometimes people can do a better job and you want to learn from them.” Russell added that while Aston's design looks impressive, performance on track will decide its impact.