2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[Badger]

We're just spliting hairs now. I was just trying to say to the other guy, you don't need to be a generational talent to win wdc. Think you agree.

There’s a very large gap between “being generational” and being “just above average”. All the drivers I’ve seen listed here exist somewhere in between.

Measured how?

By reasonably looking at the meanings of the words "average" and "generational".

"Above average" means being in the better half of the drivers, no? Being "just above average" would mean being just inside the better half of the grid. 20 drivers on the grid, that would put you maybe in the 7-10 range being generous.

Being "generational" means being the best driver in that generation of drivers. That immediately puts you near the very top since there can only be so many "generational" drivers at the same time. Usually one (in their prime), rarely ever more than two.

There's room for several drivers in between, say from positions 2-6. I would call them "elite". Drivers who can win a championship in the right car, drivers who can lead a top team, drivers who are way above average but who are not "once in a generation". Drivers like Lando, George, Oscar, Leclerc, Kimi, Button, Hill, etc.

[diffuser]

There’s a very large gap between “being generational” and being “just above average”. All the drivers I’ve seen listed here exist somewhere in between.

Measured how?

By reasonably looking at the meanings of the words "average" and "generational".

"Above average" means being in the better half of the drivers, no? Being "just above average" would mean being just inside the better half of the grid. 20 drivers on the grid, that would put you maybe in the 7-10 range being generous.

Being "generational" means being the best driver in that generation of drivers. That immediately puts you near the very top since there can only be so many "generational" drivers at the same time. Usually one (in their prime), rarely ever more than two.

There's room for several drivers in between, say from positions 2-6. I would call them "elite". Drivers who can win a championship in the right car, drivers who can lead a top team, drivers who are way above average but who are not "once in a generation". Drivers like Lando, George, Oscar, Leclerc, Kimi, Button, Hill, etc.

I was being somewhat circumspect in noting that there are no truly reliable statistics by which to judge performance. Metrics such as points and wins are largely team-dependent and heavily influenced by the car. Even comparisons to teammates can be misleading, as not all teammates are of equal caliber.

This can be argued at length, but it ultimately comes down to differing opinions about individual drivers.

This all started because someone thought AM were gonna go after Max to which I said we don't need Max to win. You can do it with a lesser driver.

[selvam_e2002]

Measured how?

By reasonably looking at the meanings of the words "average" and "generational".

"Above average" means being in the better half of the drivers, no? Being "just above average" would mean being just inside the better half of the grid. 20 drivers on the grid, that would put you maybe in the 7-10 range being generous.

Being "generational" means being the best driver in that generation of drivers. That immediately puts you near the very top since there can only be so many "generational" drivers at the same time. Usually one (in their prime), rarely ever more than two.

There's room for several drivers in between, say from positions 2-6. I would call them "elite". Drivers who can win a championship in the right car, drivers who can lead a top team, drivers who are way above average but who are not "once in a generation". Drivers like Lando, George, Oscar, Leclerc, Kimi, Button, Hill, etc.

I was being somewhat circumspect in noting that there are no truly reliable statistics by which to judge performance. Metrics such as points and wins are largely team-dependent and heavily influenced by the car. Even comparisons to teammates can be misleading, as not all teammates are of equal caliber.

This can be argued at length, but it ultimately comes down to differing opinions about individual drivers.

This all started because someone thought AM were gonna go after Max to which I said we don't need Max to win. You can do it with a lesser driver.

Yes. I 200% agree with you.

[diffuser]

2 more bite the dust from AM F1. Matteo Sansavini looks to have jumped... from Moving F1 staff ...

Michael Wilson — Principal Aerodynamicist, Aston Martin → Aston Martin Performance Technologies
Matteo Sansavini — Aero Team Leader, Aston Martin → Aero Project Leader, McLaren

[AR3-GP]

I think it will be interesting to see if Aston Martin uses air-air or air-water intercoolers. Red Bull used air-air intercoolers while most others used air-water. Was Adrian Newey behind it? The AMR26 will give some answers.

[zoroastar]

Some days ago Planetf1 published an article where they recycled some quote from Krack from pre season 2025 and claimed that they spoke to him recently and that its about 2026

--->https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-mar ... erstanding

The one you posted seems to be another such case, where the quote is not from something recent or them speaking to Stroll personally but from an interview in early 2025, or just straight up made up because i couldnt find anyhting about it.


This is what stroll actually said in March 2025

“We have all the tools, pieces of the puzzle coming together to be a front running team. Now we just got to get it done,” he said. “Everyone wants that to happen overnight. Does it happen overnight? No. How quickly does it happen? No one has an answer that question. It’s just, you know, we just gotta push as hard as we can. Keep grinding every day.”

https://www.australianjewishnews.com/st ... -together/

The quote I posted comes from a far more recent interview.

Stroll’s comments come after Honda became the first manufacturer to release images of its new power unit for 2026 on Friday.

And why would PlanetF1 put themselves into lawsuit territory by making up statements from Lance Stroll? Don't be ridiculous. The interview you posted contains none of the same quotes, you are just avoiding contending with the subject matter.

its my opinion that that quote smells of stroll knowing deep down that if aston have a title challenger, he will still probably finish 5th or lower in the standings anyway. either that, or hes the only guy in the whole organization that doesnt have much faith in newey or cardile, and also knows what all the other teams are bringing. i know which i believe.

[zoroastar]

its being reported that aston expect to be around 15kg's overweight at the start of the season and that newey is concentrating on remedying that in the first update at race 5 or 6. i imagine all the teams will be overweight at the start, but who knows by how much. they also stated that 15kg was the same amount the redbull was overweight in 2022.

[vorticism]

re:air-air intercoolers just mentioned, the now limited and presumably reduced boost should allow smaller intercoolers however the smaller cars will also demand smaller parts in general, and water-air intercoolers have had the advantage there in previous seasons. Just look how compact the MCL39 was relative to the RB cars.

[AR3-GP]

its my opinion that that quote smells of stroll knowing deep down that if aston have a title challenger, he will still probably finish 5th or lower in the standings anyway.

I don’t understand this?

[venkyhere]

I think it will be interesting to see if Aston Martin uses air-air or air-water intercoolers. Red Bull used air-air intercoolers while most others used air-water. Was Adrian Newey behind it? The AMR26 will give some answers.

I am not sure if this is a pure 'chassis only' decision, it will also depend on Honda whether the water pump can take additional 'load' ; it will also depend upon aero - how they want the sidepods, how much room is available on 'centerline engine top' etc. I am particularly interested in knowing how the teams are going to 'manufacture outwash' of the front tire wake, particularly so because the regulation forces 'inwashing' bargeboard. Will it be previous era like 'sidepod undercut' ? will it be previous-previous era like 'bargeboards' located elsewhere than where we're used to seeing ? Some 'clever aero stuff' is going to surprise us (AN could be the guy who is going to get it first-time-correct) w.r.t how the front tire wake is going to be kept away from rear coke bottle area.
I can't wait.

[NAPI10]

its being reported that aston expect to be around 15kg's overweight at the start of the season and that newey is concentrating on remedying that in the first update at race 5 or 6. i imagine all the teams will be overweight at the start, but who knows by how much. they also stated that 15kg was the same amount the redbull was overweight in 2022.

Where is it reported?

[TyreSlip]

its being reported that aston expect to be around 15kg's overweight at the start of the season and that newey is concentrating on remedying that in the first update at race 5 or 6. i imagine all the teams will be overweight at the start, but who knows by how much. they also stated that 15kg was the same amount the redbull was overweight in 2022.

Where is it reported?

I hunted around and found it on a Facebook post that Sky News reported it.

If true, that is about 0.5 seconds lost due to the extra weight. Add the 0.3 loss from Honda missing the engine trick and that is already almost a one second deficit.

[AR3-GP]

its being reported that aston expect to be around 15kg's overweight at the start of the season and that newey is concentrating on remedying that in the first update at race 5 or 6. i imagine all the teams will be overweight at the start, but who knows by how much. they also stated that 15kg was the same amount the redbull was overweight in 2022.

Where is it reported?

I hunted around and found it on a Facebook post that Sky News reported it.

If true, that is about 0.5 seconds lost due to the extra weight. Add the 0.3 loss from Honda missing the engine trick and that is already almost a one second deficit.

Most teams will be overweight.

[TyreSlip]

Where is it reported?

I hunted around and found it on a Facebook post that Sky News reported it.

If true, that is about 0.5 seconds lost due to the extra weight. Add the 0.3 loss from Honda missing the engine trick and that is already almost a one second deficit.

Most teams will be overweight.

I expect most teams to be overweight too. Hypothetically, if 1 of the 4 Mercedes powered cars were not overweight, that would be quite a chunk of lap time to make up with aero and chassis.

[mickael.olr]

its being reported that aston expect to be around 15kg's overweight at the start of the season and that newey is concentrating on remedying that in the first update at race 5 or 6. i imagine all the teams will be overweight at the start, but who knows by how much. they also stated that 15kg was the same amount the redbull was overweight in 2022.

Where is it reported?

I hunted around and found it on a Facebook post that Sky News reported it.

If true, that is about 0.5 seconds lost due to the extra weight. Add the 0.3 loss from Honda missing the engine trick and that is already almost a one second deficit.

That’s assuming only Mercedes found a ‘trick’ but it’s the only rumor we’ve heard so far. For all we know, Honda or others could have something up their sleeve too. Speculating about lost lap time before we’ve even seen the car on track is just a waste of time.