2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[FittingMechanics]

Where did the figure of 80 or 100 hp come from? Alonso confirmed after qualifying that they are running with less power to avoid further problems. But the exact figure remains a mystery.

If the engine really had 100 HP intrinsically and was purposely detuned, along with the non-setup changes, Aston Martin with these adjustments without updates, would easily lead ahead of Mercedes.

The question is, will they be able to unlock these 100 hp? That's the concern, and honestly, I don't trust Honda right now. So we'll see, it won't be easy at all. But imagine If they could do it, it would be sensational. Superior to Brawn GP.

It's a carbon copy of 2015. Back then there were constant rumours coming from Honda saying "we'll unlock this many HP by this race" and "we're driving in power mode 2 for reliability but in mode 4 our ICE engine is more powerful than Mercedes". None of it ever materialised. Anyone can turn up their engine for more power, can you run it there for 7 weekends though?

I'm surprised no one does this. Is it the cost? You can take penalties.

[SealTheRealDeal]

80 hp in engine and if Alonso's assessment of there is more than a second to unlock in chassis is true, then this car will be comfortably top of the midfield and closer to the leading four. Let's not get carried away.. Mm

This doesn't add up to me. 80hp in Melbourne would be worth 2.1 seconds (15hp = 4 tenths in Australia). Another 1 second on chassis makes 3.1 seconds. Alonso qualified 2.6 seconds away from the Mercedes. So with these numbers The Aston Martin would be half a second in front of Mercedes.

Is that realistic?

Not sure how much of that theoretical 1 second can be realized, but since this is the start of a new reg-set, I imagine most teams, probably even Mercedes, have some low hanging fruit to pick on the chassis side. By the time Aston finds one second in the chassis, Mercedes may find over half a second in theirs. Thinking back to 2022, the AMR22 was maybe 6th fastest car by the end of the year, but if the Abu Dahbi spec-AMR22 had shown up to the Bahrain GP it'd probably have been top 3 (although with Vettel out with COVID maybe that wouldn't have been apparent in that theoretical scenario, and the "armchair wing" might have been banned if it was introduced that early in the season).

Question is which teams will best succeed in realizing their theoretical potential, and which ones will over-invest in dead-end development directions. And of course if Honda can deliver that 80hp increase without introducing new issues.

[mzso]

The vibrations can be seen in onboard footage.

Inconclusive, the footage is too low quality.

Newey also said that Honda ICE is so underpowered that Honda should just focus on 2027.

“Being realistic, this season is first of all, as I mentioned, getting on top of this vibration problem so we can run reliably, and from there to see how much performance they can add to the combustion engine in particular.

“Then at the same time, of course, Honda needs to start working on the ’27 engine because it’s clear that a very large step in combustion engine power is needed for ’27, and that has to be their sole focus.”

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/adrian ... in-plight/

No he said (as seen here) they should work on adding performance after the vibration is fixed, and also to work on 27 because there's a power gap.

[AR3-GP]

The vibrations can be seen in onboard footage.

Inconclusive, the footage is too low quality.

I don't think you're looking in the right place. The entire frame is shaking when he's stationary and revving the engine.

[diffuser]

Where did the figure of 80 or 100 hp come from? Alonso confirmed after qualifying that they are running with less power to avoid further problems. But the exact figure remains a mystery.

If the engine really had 100 HP intrinsically and was purposely detuned, along with the non-setup changes, Aston Martin with these adjustments without updates, would easily lead ahead of Mercedes.

The question is, will they be able to unlock these 100 hp? That's the concern, and honestly, I don't trust Honda right now. So we'll see, it won't be easy at all. But imagine If they could do it, it would be sensational. Superior to Brawn GP.

It's a carbon copy of 2015. Back then there were constant rumours coming from Honda saying "we'll unlock this many HP by this race" and "we're driving in power mode 2 for reliability but in mode 4 our ICE engine is more powerful than Mercedes". None of it ever materialised. Anyone can turn up their engine for more power, can you run it there for 7 weekends though?

They invented "1 in hand is worth 2 in the bush."

[GoranF1]

So....

In 2015 Button and Magnusen were two slowest cars in qualifying.
Button was 2.9 off Hamilton Q1 time and about 5.1 off his Q3 time.

In 2026 Alonso was 2.4 off Russell Q1 time and 3.4 of Russell Q3 time.

[Rikrikrik]

I hate Honda, but, honestly, i dont believe this situation is similar to 2015. But i dont trust on a single interview or post from Honda. I still thinking they will be improve a lot after this ridiculous exposed and now Cowel is there working a lot. Now the eyes will be absolutely focusing on engine, especially for 2027 specification. I dont think this will be dragged to the rest of year. They will be so much better in the summer. They are similar to Alpine and Williams already. Alonso said the funeral atmosphere difuse by media is so much higher than the reality, and really? i believe. Naturally is serious and depressing, but, according media Aston Martin will be sale tomorrow and some people will me arrested. I think those problems arent so bad how media saying. Alonso looks calm and resilient, we didnt see this in 2015. They need time, time and hard work. Again, they have Newey and other incrediable people to make the right things, It will be interesting to see how this year goes for them. For me, Williams and Alpine situation is so much more depressing than AM, they forgot the entire 2025 and they are so bad today with the best engine.

[bigblue]

<deleted>

[Seanspeed]

So....

In 2015 Button and Magnusen were two slowest cars in qualifying.
Button was 2.9 off Hamilton Q1 time and about 5.1 off his Q3 time.

In 2026 Alonso was 2.4 off Russell Q1 time and 3.4 of Russell Q3 time.

Reliability concerns are much bigger this time around, though. It's not just a slow engine.

Also a Newey chassis will undoubtedly be flattering things in a comparison like this.

[mzso]

There is nothing that physically stops Honda from exceeding the cap. However once they exceed it, they will be subject to the penalties laid out in the financial regulations. There’s nothing for the FIA to do except to enforce their own regulations which cover overspends.

What sort of punishments are prescribed?

I don't think you're looking in the right place. The entire frame is shaking when he's stationary and revving the engine.

I don't know. I don't remember cameras shaking like that even with much higher shocks when jumping kerbs, etc.

[Alonso Fan]

This thread seems awfully quiet after quali... Do people seriously only come here when things are going wrong?

Really? Do you think things are now going right? Or just not wrong?

A lot of posters usually post less in weekends, you can bet on it.

Things aren't good at all but some seemed to think that AMR wouldn't even make the 107% cutoff. Theres a lot more potential here than 2015 that's for sure

[Alonso Fan]

So....

In 2015 Button and Magnusen were two slowest cars in qualifying.
Button was 2.9 off Hamilton Q1 time and about 5.1 off his Q3 time.

In 2026 Alonso was 2.4 off Russell Q1 time and 3.4 of Russell Q3 time.

Reliability concerns are much bigger this time around, though. It's not just a slow engine.

Also a Newey chassis will undoubtedly be flattering things in a comparison like this.

Wasn't it as big of a concern back then too? I remember it being big news that Button finished the race albeit heavily detuned. They hadn't managed a single race distance in testing or practice back then and Magnusson had a DNS

[lio007]

F1 is one of the most fast paced businesses in the world. I'm pretty sure the situation will improve a lot faster than many think.
In terms of exemptions... it's hard to believe the others would allow it, IMO the fear of Newey's "magic" or the car's potential is too big.

[Seanspeed]

So....

In 2015 Button and Magnusen were two slowest cars in qualifying.
Button was 2.9 off Hamilton Q1 time and about 5.1 off his Q3 time.

In 2026 Alonso was 2.4 off Russell Q1 time and 3.4 of Russell Q3 time.

Reliability concerns are much bigger this time around, though. It's not just a slow engine.

Also a Newey chassis will undoubtedly be flattering things in a comparison like this.

Wasn't it as big of a concern back then too? I remember it being big news that Button finished the race albeit heavily detuned. They hadn't managed a single race distance in testing or practice back then and Magnusson had a DNS

It was definitely a notable concern back then, but the reliability woes weren't as dire as they are right now. They had a couple DNS' early season and some retirements for sure, but at least had a realistic shot of finishing a race by dialing things down.

As for now, it seems like there's effectively zero chance that an Aston Martin can finish a race distance(at least without being a race hazard), and I'm not sure when that reality might change. Hence rumors they might have to simply abort the race like 15-20 laps in, to ensure they dont burn through parts so much and destroy their cost cap situation super early.

[Rikrikrik]

What happen if they simple overbudget a lot to make a decent engine ? The penalty for this is also money?