2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[selvam_e2002]

whatever rule changes happen, no one will willing to partnership with Honda any more. They never learn. from the past.... Total waste Engine supplier in F1..

[issey]

whatever rule changes happen, no one will willing to partnership with Honda any more. They never learn. from the past.... Total waste Engine supplier in F1..

The season hasn’t even started yet and still you’re judging like we know anything about the performance at all.

[jacme22]

Yikes A Spanish F1 streamer (Nachez98) says a source close the AM team has informed him that the gearbox has a) cavitation issues: leading to heating & lubrication problems (oil issue?); b) flexing issues that is affecting the rear suspension + geometry issues and c) that microcracks have been found in the gearbox case. Massive grain of salt, but SoyMotor informed some weeks ago that Aston was having major issues with the new gearbox. I guess we'll know more soon enough.

[Leon Kennedy]

It's highly unlikely the V10 will return to F1. The current discussion for the next regulation change revolves around a basic 2.4L naturally aspirated V8 and reduced electrification.

v10, v8, whatever, as long as we can have lighter race-able cars again.

I don't think the new regulations will last long. Unless a miracle happens and the races become exciting, which I doubt.

I think a return to engines powered by biofuels would be the right thing to do.

E-fuels are already a step forward (Ferrari uses biofuel), but we cannot go back to the era with aspirated engines, since F1 is a showcase of reality and today's cars are going towards a hybrid-electric change and then becoming fully electric, so much so that Honda itself declared that without the electric part it would not return to F1.

Anyway guys I read an article where it is explained that the Honda factory in Milton Keynes is actually the factory where they were before and where RB powertrains was, until 2024 when Honda he bought the factory back again and therefore did not build a new one from 0.

https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-ho ... /10700318/

From the text to cut a long story short: The factory building itself is the same one that was originally created in 2019 as HRD UK. Following Honda's temporary withdrawal from F1 in 2021, The facility was used by Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT), the power unit division of Red Bull, with whom Honda has a current technical partnership. However, Honda has now reacquired the facility.

I don't know if this has already been said, but can anyone else confirm? Because this completely changes the situation.

[Leon Kennedy]

Yikes A Spanish F1 streamer (Nachez98) says a source close the AM team has informed him that the gearbox has a) cavitation issues: leading to heating & lubrication problems (oil issue?); b) flexing issues that is affecting the rear suspension + geometry issues and c) that microcracks have been found in the gearbox case. Massive grain of salt, but SoyMotor informed some weeks ago that Aston was having major issues with the new gearbox. I guess we'll know more soon enough.

It's true that the gear ratios are frozen after March 1st, but you can still improve reliability. If it's just a gearbox issue and the ice is fine, we can celebrate, guys. So be patient and let's see what they tell us

[diffuser]

Interesting though, the engine and gearbox combo should have been thrashed on test benches. So is it realistic it really is the gearbox? Are vibrational loads that different on test and actually out on track? Actually do dynos run engines with gearboxes, and if so is it possible that pairing the two was done very late?

Edit: that's a question for the more knowledgeable people who frequent this forum

Not that I'm an expert but I think this might just be normal teething. We'll see if the gearbox and the package as a whole gets better next week.

[diffuser]

Yikes A Spanish F1 streamer (Nachez98) says a source close the AM team has informed him that the gearbox has a) cavitation issues: leading to heating & lubrication problems (oil issue?); b) flexing issues that is affecting the rear suspension + geometry issues and c) that microcracks have been found in the gearbox case. Massive grain of salt, but SoyMotor informed some weeks ago that Aston was having major issues with the new gearbox. I guess we'll know more soon enough.

It's true that the gear ratios are frozen after March 1st, but you can still improve reliability. If it's just a gearbox issue and the ice is fine, we can celebrate, guys. So be patient and let's see what they tell us

The 2026 Gear Ratio Deadline
​Typically, F1 gear ratios must be nominated before the first race of the season and remain fixed for the entire year. However, for 2026:
​Initial Nomination: Teams must nominate their set of forward gear ratios (and the final drive) to the FIA before the start of the first Championship competition.
​The "One-Time" Change: During the 2026 season only, each team is permitted to change their nominated gear ratios once.

[AR3-GP]

Interesting though, the engine and gearbox combo should have been thrashed on test benches. So is it realistic it really is the gearbox? Are vibrational loads that different on test and actually out on track? Actually do dynos run engines with gearboxes, and if so is it possible that pairing the two was done very late?

Edit: that's a question for the more knowledgeable people who frequent this forum

Test benches can't simulate sustained g-forces all that well.

Here's a nice video of gear cavitation



and gearbox

[krich]

is there any real possibility that in less than a week problems related with gearbox get sorted out? i find it hard to believe

[diffuser]

is there any real possibility that in less than a week problems related with gearbox get sorted out? i find it hard to believe

Why not, it isn't brain surgery. I'm not saying we're not gonna have any retirements during the season from the gearbox. They learn from the problems and improve it.

[diffuser]

v10, v8, whatever, as long as we can have lighter race-able cars again.

I don't think the new regulations will last long. Unless a miracle happens and the races become exciting, which I doubt.

I think a return to engines powered by biofuels would be the right thing to do.

E-fuels are already a step forward (Ferrari uses biofuel), but we cannot go back to the era with aspirated engines, since F1 is a showcase of reality and today's cars are going towards a hybrid-electric change and then becoming fully electric, so much so that Honda itself declared that without the electric part it would not return to F1.

Anyway guys I read an article where it is explained that the Honda factory in Milton Keynes is actually the factory where they were before and where RB powertrains was, until 2024 when Honda he bought the factory back again and therefore did not build a new one from 0.

https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-ho ... /10700318/

From the text to cut a long story short: The factory building itself is the same one that was originally created in 2019 as HRD UK. Following Honda's temporary withdrawal from F1 in 2021, The facility was used by Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT), the power unit division of Red Bull, with whom Honda has a current technical partnership. However, Honda has now reacquired the facility.

I don't know if this has already been said, but can anyone else confirm? Because this completely changes the situation.

I read somewhere else too... Why wouldn't you believe motorsport? It's a Honda Racing Corporation announcement of its new headquarters in Milton Keynes, UK. Which was where the old was that RBR had been using to maintain the Honda PU. RBR built their own Powertrain building, so Honda took it back.

[1158]

If the gearbox is the issue, it seems to me they knew before the car was on track for the closed test. They didn't run the car then institute the speed/rpm limit. They hit the track with that limit, implying they knew ahead of time. This suggests they've been working on a solution for more than a week or two.

They could have some temporary solutions which was why rpm and speed started to increase in Bahrain. Again, that assumes the gearbox is the issue. At this point it's all wild speculation.

[diffuser]

If the gearbox is the issue, it seems to me they knew before the car was on track for the closed test. They didn't run the car then institute the speed/rpm limit. They hit the track with that limit, implying they knew ahead of time. This suggests they've been working on a solution for more than a week or two.

They could have some temporary solutions which was why rpm and speed started to increase in Bahrain. Again, that assumes the gearbox is the issue. At this point it's all wild speculation.

I think the main issue is that they're one test behind everyone else. Think the gearbox was giving them some shifting problems and vibrations. They're working on that.
- Honda said that basically the regeneration wasn't at 100% and are working on the software in simulations to improve the regeneration for the next test. There was also a grocery list of drivability issues the drivers wanted.
- Krack said they put together a list of things they had to improve on the chassis and setup a priority list for the next test.

[zoroastar]

v10, v8, whatever, as long as we can have lighter race-able cars again.

I don't think the new regulations will last long. Unless a miracle happens and the races become exciting, which I doubt.

I think a return to engines powered by biofuels would be the right thing to do.

E-fuels are already a step forward (Ferrari uses biofuel), but we cannot go back to the era with aspirated engines, since F1 is a showcase of reality and today's cars are going towards a hybrid-electric change and then becoming fully electric, so much so that Honda itself declared that without the electric part it would not return to F1.

we cant go to a series in which the top drivers dont matter anymore. hondas always had one foot in and one foot out of the sport, thats part of the reason things are as they are atm.

they wont do away with batteries all together, but they wont be going to full electric anytime soon either. i see a v8 turbo on efuels sooner rather than later. especially if these new power units make it into a push to pass only series.the cars batteries are dead half way down the straights right now. they are going to spend more time taking care of their battery than they do with tires, until the engineers tell them exactly how to drive each lap to finish the race quickest.

imagine a race where lance stroll (ikr!!) passes 5 cars on the opening 3 turns, only to be passed by 10 on the first long straight because he couldnt charge the batteries while making the passes. its more likely they wont attempt it because they know the outcome. could just end up being a huge snore-fest.

the first couple of races should be cool to watch regardless but i could see it becoming old really fast. i hope im wrong

[zoroastar]

is there any real possibility that in less than a week problems related with gearbox get sorted out? i find it hard to believe

Why not, it isn't brain surgery. I'm not saying we're not gonna have any retirements during the season from the gearbox. They learn from the problems and improve it.

could it be that this was all because of a shoddy designed gearbox!! omg i dont dare get my hopes up haha