Aston Martin
Jonathan Wheatley departs Audi F1 team principal role for Aston Martin
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Audi F1 confirmed on 20 March the immediate departure of team principal Jonathan Wheatley after two races into the 2026 season, citing personal reasons. He is set to replace Adrian Newey at Aston Martin, with Mattia Binotto taking interim duties at the ninth-placed team amid ongoing struggles.
Aston Martin Formula 1 ambassador Pedro de la Rosa stated that Adrian Newey's role as team principal will remain unchanged and that Jonathan Wheatley is not joining the team for now. Wheatley left Audi last Friday citing personal reasons, shortly after reports emerged of a potential move to Aston Martin. De la Rosa emphasized the team's commitment to its current structure amid ongoing performance challenges.
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Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe described concerns over the company's Formula 1 power unit project with Aston Martin as a misunderstanding stemming from staff rotations and a delayed rebuild. Adrian Newey revealed that Aston Martin only learned in November 2025 about significant changes in Honda's team since its Red Bull success. Watanabe emphasized that the partnership is now strong despite challenges like vibration issues.
Following practice session struggles, Aston Martin saw both drivers retire early from the 2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix due to ongoing battery failures from Honda power unit vibrations and a lack of spares. Team leaders remain optimistic about potential finishes and future improvements.
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Fernando Alonso has advised his Aston Martin team to retire from the 2026 Australian Grand Prix at the first sign of trouble to protect future races. The team faces severe issues with its Honda power unit, limiting them to about 25 laps in the 58-lap event. Alonso starts 17th after a double Q1 exit in qualifying.
Honda has revealed that excessive vibrations from its V6 combustion engine damaged the battery system during pre-season testing with Aston Martin, forcing an early stop to sessions. The problems, deemed dangerous and extremely challenging, severely limited the team's mileage compared to rivals. Honda is investigating countermeasures ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia.
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A 1961 Aston Martin DB4, owned by the Haynes Motor Museum, has been restored to full running condition after more than two decades as a static exhibit. The work was carried out by Haynes Heritage Engineering in Somerset. The car is now on public display at the museum near Sparkford.
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