2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[venkyhere]

There is so much talk of 'not running full potential' , 'conservative engine mode' , 'fake aero bits' etc in all team threads. The fact of the matter is, teams try to do 'as much as possible' by bringing 'as many parts as possible' for shakedown/testing events in such a 'fully revamped formula'. They want to know not just about what they have, but mostly to form a crude idea about what 'development path' to take over the next few seasons, when they sweep through different PU modes, different cooling settings, different tyre pressures, different ride heights etc etc. Hence every hour of the 9 days of 'test time' is super important. The focus has to be more (more than ever before) on themselves than 'fooling others'.

Turn up the engine to 11, run with low(high) fuel load to sim quali(race), test the limits of the car and still produce a 'sandbagged laptime' so as to not show their hand fully (if you have been watching the FP2/FP3 sessions by Mclaren & Verstappen over the past 2 years (most recent example), you will know how they do it).

The Bahrain tests will be fundamental, I don't know if anyone has already used more aggressive engine modes and that will be a very important part. Remember Ferrari in 2022? They did some brilliant tests, with many laps, but then as soon as they pushed the engine to Catalunya and Baku, they had problems. We also need to see how Honda's development is progressing, because the one presented was not the final version.

Yes, I am in agreement with that (bold highlighted). Statements from Honda and the delay for Barcelona, all point to the fact that the team is 'delayed w.r.t others'. Hence the 'as much as possible' in my post. All teams are doing the best they can, I don't think anybody is trying to 'hide their capability' or 'play poker' with the competition (unlike what happens in the mid-years or end-years of a regulation set) - because 'proper data' is too important at this stage.

Drivers can easily hide laptime by pushing in selective mini-sectors and ease off in other mini-sectors , and then do the inverse in the next lap, and show 'consistent laptime'. At this early stage of development, it will be seen as the car having to suffer from 'tradeoff' between corner entry and exits. So sandbagging can be done by the driver, it doesn't need the car to be compromised from whatever is the 'target performance after risk evaluation' that the team wants.
Piastri (first half), Russel & Max did it so well last season, even all the way until end of Q1 - not revealing their trump cards driving wise, and build a perception of 'car limitation'.

[diffuser]

There is so much talk of 'not running full potential' , 'conservative engine mode' , 'fake aero bits' etc in all team threads. The fact of the matter is, teams try to do 'as much as possible' by bringing 'as many parts as possible' for shakedown/testing events in such a 'fully revamped formula'. They want to know not just about what they have, but mostly to form a crude idea about what 'development path' to take over the next few seasons, when they sweep through different PU modes, different cooling settings, different tyre pressures, different ride heights etc etc. Hence every hour of the 9 days of 'test time' is super important. The focus has to be more (more than ever before) on themselves than 'fooling others'.

Turn up the engine to 11, run with low(high) fuel load to sim quali(race), test the limits of the car and still produce a 'sandbagged laptime' so as to not show their hand fully (if you have been watching the FP2/FP3 sessions by Mclaren & Verstappen over the past 2 years (most recent example), you will know how they do it).

The Bahrain tests will be fundamental, I don't know if anyone has already used more aggressive engine modes and that will be a very important part. Remember Ferrari in 2022? They did some brilliant tests, with many laps, but then as soon as they pushed the engine to Catalunya and Baku, they had problems. We also need to see how Honda's development is progressing, because the one presented was not the final version.

Yes, I am in agreement with that (bold highlighted). Statements from Honda and the delay for Barcelona, all point to the fact that the team is 'delayed w.r.t others'. Hence the 'as much as possible' in my post. All teams are doing the best they can, I don't think anybody is trying to 'hide their capability' or 'play poker' with the competition (unlike what happens in the mid-years or end-years of a regulation set) - because 'proper data' is too important at this stage.

Drivers can easily hide laptime by pushing in selective mini-sectors and ease off in other mini-sectors , and then do the inverse in the next lap, and show 'consistent laptime'. At this early stage of development, it will be seen as the car having to suffer from 'tradeoff' between corner entry and exits. So sandbagging can be done by the driver, it doesn't need the car to be compromised from whatever is the 'target performance after risk evaluation' that the team wants.
Piastri (first half), Russel & Max did it so well last season, even all the way until end of Q1 - not revealing their trump cards driving wise, and build a perception of 'car limitation'.

Someone mentioned that there wasn't even any restrictions on fuel for the Barcelona test.

[Leon Kennedy]

The Bahrain tests will be fundamental, I don't know if anyone has already used more aggressive engine modes and that will be a very important part. Remember Ferrari in 2022? They did some brilliant tests, with many laps, but then as soon as they pushed the engine to Catalunya and Baku, they had problems. We also need to see how Honda's development is progressing, because the one presented was not the final version.

Yes, I am in agreement with that (bold highlighted). Statements from Honda and the delay for Barcelona, all point to the fact that the team is 'delayed w.r.t others'. Hence the 'as much as possible' in my post. All teams are doing the best they can, I don't think anybody is trying to 'hide their capability' or 'play poker' with the competition (unlike what happens in the mid-years or end-years of a regulation set) - because 'proper data' is too important at this stage.

Drivers can easily hide laptime by pushing in selective mini-sectors and ease off in other mini-sectors , and then do the inverse in the next lap, and show 'consistent laptime'. At this early stage of development, it will be seen as the car having to suffer from 'tradeoff' between corner entry and exits. So sandbagging can be done by the driver, it doesn't need the car to be compromised from whatever is the 'target performance after risk evaluation' that the team wants.
Piastri (first half), Russel & Max did it so well last season, even all the way until end of Q1 - not revealing their trump cards driving wise, and build a perception of 'car limitation'.

Someone mentioned that there wasn't even any restrictions on fuel for the Barcelona test.

From what they said, only McLaren has tested the new efuel

[Ashwinv16]

You shouldn't diminish the effect of experience and brilliance. Someone needs to make the big decisions. And that's where it matters, a lot. Ferrari had all the budget and people and infrastructure they wanted since forever.
Yet, the last time they won was in 2007 and even that was a McLaren blunder/handout.

It’s hilarious to look where McLaren and Red Bull were before Newey.

McLaren before Newey were already a multiple WCC winning team.

I've said many times that being an aero engineer in a team where Newey works must be an awful feeling sometimes.

You could be the person who comes up with an innovative solution, which ends up on the car and all the public credit will go to..... Newey....

Contrary many amazing talents got recognized by the world thanks to Newey either working with him or working against him, Peter Prodromou, James Key, Rory Bryne, To name a few (of the top of my head).

[madridista]

Breitling to announce AM sponsorship soon

https://www.breitling.com/at-de/about/p ... d-sign-up/

[F1doc]

Breitling to announce AM sponsorship soon

https://www.breitling.com/at-de/about/p ... d-sign-up/

I've noticed the listing of Girard-Perregaux is missing from the team website. Seems plausible to replace one timepiece maker with another.

[diffuser]

It’s hilarious to look where McLaren and Red Bull were before Newey.

McLaren before Newey were already a multiple WCC winning team.

I've said many times that being an aero engineer in a team where Newey works must be an awful feeling sometimes.

You could be the person who comes up with an innovative solution, which ends up on the car and all the public credit will go to..... Newey....

Contrary many amazing talents got recognized by the world thanks to Newey either working with him or working against him, Peter Prodromou, James Key, Rory Bryne, To name a few (of the top of my head).

Alot of the guys that worked with Newey made alot of money. Some of them, the money was well earned others, not so much.

[CHT]

McLaren before Newey were already a multiple WCC winning team.

I've said many times that being an aero engineer in a team where Newey works must be an awful feeling sometimes.

You could be the person who comes up with an innovative solution, which ends up on the car and all the public credit will go to..... Newey....

Contrary many amazing talents got recognized by the world thanks to Newey either working with him or working against him, Peter Prodromou, James Key, Rory Bryne, To name a few (of the top of my head).

Alot of the guys that worked with Newey made a lot of money. Some of them, the money was well earned others, not so much.

Newey is a legendary F1 designer, a source for inspiration for many young designers and engineers but he doesn't have monopoly over innovations and best ideas in F1.

With advancement of AI learning tools, I am also wondering if AN's approach of using paper and pencil drawing board approach can keep pace with pace of modern F1 development.

[zoroastar]

Contrary many amazing talents got recognized by the world thanks to Newey either working with him or working against him, Peter Prodromou, James Key, Rory Bryne, To name a few (of the top of my head).

Alot of the guys that worked with Newey made a lot of money. Some of them, the money was well earned others, not so much.

Newey is a legendary F1 designer, a source for inspiration for many young designers and engineers but he doesn't have monopoly over innovations and best ideas in F1.

With advancement of AI learning tools, I am also wondering if AN's approach of using paper and pencil drawing board approach can keep pace with pace of modern F1 development.

its probably a moot point. there are dozens of engineers using those tools at aston, working along side newey. it will keep up for as long as adrian keeps doing it. then it will probably go away for the most part. AI is great for many things, but it isnt going to know that airflow seperates from the sidepod in turn 6 when there is a car 2 seconds ahead, in a tailwind, unless you know to ask it. theres no replacing experience, yet.

[Ashwinv16]

Contrary many amazing talents got recognized by the world thanks to Newey either working with him or working against him, Peter Prodromou, James Key, Rory Bryne, To name a few (of the top of my head).

Alot of the guys that worked with Newey made a lot of money. Some of them, the money was well earned others, not so much.

Newey is a legendary F1 designer, a source for inspiration for many young designers and engineers but he doesn't have monopoly over innovations and best ideas in F1.

With advancement of AI learning tools, I am also wondering if AN's approach of using paper and pencil drawing board approach can keep pace with pace of modern F1 development.

The reason why it might take even 100 years or more for tech or AI to catch up with simple pen and paper with testing is because it almost impossible to code the nuances or aerodynamics and the physics involved in the tyres or vehicle dynamics. I am not a AI hater cause the reasonnas far as my knowledge goes we don't even have the MATH needed for developing the AI for this yet (Navier-Stokes Equation being the famous unsolved one but there like 7 more that's not solved relevant to Cars let alone F1) This is where we rely on human experience and raw testing for data; someone like Newey can literally predict the wind and the car movement based on the design. It really a matter of using CAD over paper and pencil that's all there is to it. This lack of experience and inability to fully solve is why no one predicted the "porpoising" for 2022, except Newey cause experience is still king.

[zoroastar]

Its to early to predict anything, especially because the teams still able to use the fossil fuel during the tests, including 2 bahrain tests, so, we dont know anything until the BioFuel starts on everyone in Melbourne. I trust in the car and specially how Newey and the other will be improved during the season. But i still dont trust on Honda, for me, Honda will be the season a masteclass disaster. Im praying im wrong so much about Honda, but, i have traumas.

I am also thinking same way when they Announced that Honda partnership. finger crossed. let see. It is similar to 2015 Mclaren. I don't think Alonso + Honda will work either.

this situation is nothing like 2015. hondas gonna be fine. alonso is the happiest hes been in 10 years too.

[Jambier]

For those worried by Honda (Myself included): They are not starting from scratch like 2015. They have all the previous experience, they are moving from an engine that was very good and gain titles.

So yes, maybe they are late, maybe they missed some stuff, but there is the ADUO, and I don't believe they will be that far.
Especially for the second half of the season.

Of course, everyone is wondering how much the Mercedes trick is worth, and the fact that they are "losing" the Mercedes engine just the year there is this trick, but that also mean they have a tailored engine for the car so... let's wait.

Newey started late, and I think everyone at AM knows that start of 26' may be difficult, they already said that the target is 27'

This also means they need to do podiums and some wins this year, but not expecting a world title

[TyreSlip]

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/new ... -open-mind

[krich]

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/new ... -open-mind

let Adrian cook

[FNTC]

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/new ... -open-mind

Awesome talk with Newey there.

Will the car be competitive straight out of the box come the season opener in Melbourne?

"We've attempted to build something that we hope will have quite a lot of development potential.

"What you want to try to avoid is a car that comes out quite optimised within its window but lacks a lot of development potential. We've tried to do the opposite, which is why we've really focused on the fundamentals, put our effort into those, knowing that some of the appendages – wings, bodywork, things that can be changed in season – will hopefully have development potential."

You get the feeling that might be a broader theme for this season: keeping minds open to what's available to take the most advantage as things evolve.

"Very much so. The AMR26 that races in Melbourne is going to be very different to the one people saw at the Barcelona Shakedown, and the AMR26 that we finish the season with in Abu Dhabi is going to be very different to the one that we start the season with.

"It's very important to keep an open mind."