2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[mzso]

People here think AMR suddenly becomes a top team after the start of a new chassis AND engine formula are dillusional. Only Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi really enjoy a true works arrangement and structure such that the engine department can work with the chassis department. AMR is a perfect example of Mclaren in 2015. Doesn't have act together, designer blames it on engineers.

2009 must have been a very great collective delusion then. They had to put in an engine in a chassis that was in no ways designed for it. The needed an extra gear and also lifting the position of the engine slightly.

It was the hype created due to arrival of Newey and Honda.
To be a top team suddenly with the change in regulations was realistically not expected. However, AMR should have at least a midfield team, was not expected to be at bottom.

They were in win contention at the beginning 2023, even without the Newey and the new wind tunnel and facilities.
We have zero idea how good or bad the car, since for the time being it's pulled down by a non-functional engine.

[mzso]

The idea that they are going to fix this by Japan seems supremely optimistic to me. There's no indication they've identified the core issue yet and engines have very long lead times. Honda has previous form for over-promising and under-delivering on "quick fixes". At the start of 2015 they were talking about podiums in the second half of the season, in reality they were stalling for time and trying to hide how far behind they really were. Today the vibes are eerily similar.

I listened to an interview with Mark Slade (former race engineer for Mika, Kimi, Alonso, and Michael), he suggested that these issues were going to set the project back by two years. For me that is a more realistic evaluation than what is being mentioned in here.

On the other hand bringing forward the engine design intended for one year later, when the F1 program was cancelled turned out really well.

In the span of a regulatory era, it's not really two years; you never really recover. Only by changing the regulations can you hope to recover. Anyone who says 2027 or 2028 doesn't remember how turbo hybrid F1 works. The others will always continue to improve, you can be faster than them by 1-2 tenths maximum, but recovering 4 seconds is literally impossible.


Our hope is that they don't have an intrinsic deficit of 80 hp, but of 20 hp maximum and that 60 hp blocked by reliability. If they really had 80 hp less, they are looking at dark years. For this reason we hope that in Japan they will unlock the detuned engine (if it were true) and we hope it does not have a high deficit

That's why Honda never one anything with Red Bull, right? Jesus... How people dream up one weird narrative after another? Unlike then now there's explicit regulation to allow developments while the best PUs need can't develop...

I agree. Nothing until 2027.

ADOU offers more freedom than what's possible between years.

[mzso]

I was under the impression that Cowell would get his job back as soon as he cleaned up the mess with Honda.

That's what I was expecting as well. If left where he is, I don't think he will remain with this team for long. I quite Mercedes because he was sick of managing engine development.

#5 The only thing AN sucked at was diplomacy.
#6 If you need someone just to talk to the media, why not let Krack do it. He's very good at it.

struture..

    Adrian Newey
    /     |     \
Cowell Cardille TP

I don't know. Maybe Honda appreciates blunt honesty.
Krack already seems to be the spokesperson. By the way is the team principal required to attend the FIA press conferences, or anyone from the team can be sent?

And Cowell would remain an engine liaison? I doubt he's be satisfied.

To me... that has significant risk of disfunction. What experienced TP would want to operate in those conditions? What if Newey not having someone to tell him "no" is part of the problem?

If he IS a master manager in addition to supreme technologist and is able to look at his own desires dispassionately and keep himself under control then maybe this will work.

Richard

If it's meant for Technical decisions it might be optimal. I don't think Newey wants to deal with bureaucracy and politics, etc.
I don't Newey needs anyone to tell him anything, he F1 teams' technical departments since forever. He is the one who says no.

[Badger]

The idea that they are going to fix this by Japan seems supremely optimistic to me. There's no indication they've identified the core issue yet and engines have very long lead times. Honda has previous form for over-promising and under-delivering on "quick fixes". At the start of 2015 they were talking about podiums in the second half of the season, in reality they were stalling for time and trying to hide how far behind they really were. Today the vibes are eerily similar.

I listened to an interview with Mark Slade (former race engineer for Mika, Kimi, Alonso, and Michael), he suggested that these issues were going to set the project back by two years. For me that is a more realistic evaluation than what is being mentioned in here.

On the other hand bringing forward the engine design intended for one year later, when the F1 program was cancelled turned out really well.

I agree. Nothing until 2027.

ADOU offers more freedom than what's possible between years.

In 2020 they were in a good position though, they had sorted out the big issues with the engine a couple of years earlier and they were only lacking a bit of power to the front. The crew was experienced and knew what they were doing. The project now reminds me more of 2015. A lot of major issues and a lot of inexperienced people.

ADUO offers more freedom to bring upgrades but the crucial bit is do you actually have significant upgrades to bring? The idea that Honda has a true second spec ready to go by race 6 I suspect is wishful thinking. Maybe later in the year, but will that then compromise the 2027 engine and making more fundamental changes? Adrian was alluding to it in Melbourne, they need to solve the vibration but they can’t lose sight of 2027 either, the priority needs to be a decent engine for next year.

[Leon Kennedy]

The idea that they are going to fix this by Japan seems supremely optimistic to me. There's no indication they've identified the core issue yet and engines have very long lead times. Honda has previous form for over-promising and under-delivering on "quick fixes". At the start of 2015 they were talking about podiums in the second half of the season, in reality they were stalling for time and trying to hide how far behind they really were. Today the vibes are eerily similar.

I listened to an interview with Mark Slade (former race engineer for Mika, Kimi, Alonso, and Michael), he suggested that these issues were going to set the project back by two years. For me that is a more realistic evaluation than what is being mentioned in here.

On the other hand bringing forward the engine design intended for one year later, when the F1 program was cancelled turned out really well.

I agree. Nothing until 2027.

ADOU offers more freedom than what's possible between years.

In 2020 they were in a good position though, they had sorted out the big issues with the engine a couple of years earlier and they were only lacking a bit of power to the front. The crew was experienced and knew what they were doing. The project now reminds me more of 2015. A lot of major issues and a lot of inexperienced people.

ADUO offers more freedom to bring upgrades but the crucial bit is do you actually have significant upgrades to bring? The idea that Honda has a true second spec ready to go by race 6 I suspect is wishful thinking. Maybe later in the year, but will that then compromise the 2027 engine and making more fundamental changes? Adrian was alluding to it in Melbourne, they need to solve the vibration but they can’t lose sight of 2027 either, the priority needs to be a decent engine for next year.

Consider that any improvements in 2026 will be used in 2027, so it's as if you're carrying over next year's spec. The point is that ADUO allows for two performance upgrades, I don't think they can do much anyway

[Richard C]

It's obvious this is a cultural issue (Japan, west) and a philosophical issue.

I don't agree that it's obvious or that it's an east vs.west thing.

As long as Honda does it all in Japan with the Japanese way and Honda's philosophy of using F1 as an educational tool for their employees and have large turnover i.e. bring in workers to gain knowledge on F1 for 5 to 6 years and move them on to another part of the company and bring in new engineers..... this cycle will continue. Honda will start off slow, people claim this is all a disaster, then Honda starts to get competitive and then dominates for 4 to 6 years and then boom, big down turn, and it starts all over again. That is how Honda's corporate structure works. You are beholden to their corporate decision making from the boardroom. It's not a smaller British UK aero design office.

Again, I don't agree. I think it can be a good thing to rotate staff through. It does need to be done right however. And honestly any company is going to have people coming and going. Staff always turns over. People retire, junior staff learns and becomes senior staff. And frankly it's healthy to rotate in new ideas even if from junior staff.

IMHO, the primary problem that Honda has is their on again, off again commitment to F1. It inhibits a level of continuity or inertia that happens in an organization like AMG HHP. So Honda pays periodic "start up" penalty like we see today. Lastly... it's easy to debunk claims that Honda can't be successful. Because that have been. Recently. If they had only just kept the ball rolling vs letting it stop and having to restart it again.

Mercedes decided to have their entire F1 program (engine, chassis) be made 100% in the UK, mostly by British staff, not in Germany.

To be honest, that is quite a jingoistic position. IMHO, why Mercedes does so well is as I say above. Continuity and consistency of purpose. They could do it in the UK or Germany or elsewhere. Of course there is a benefit of being closer geographically to the teams they support, but being in UK is NOT why they are successful. It is a factor, but not a primary one.

I'll throw this question out there, should Aston Martin hire Christian Horner as Team Principle and let Adrian Newey just stick to aero/chassis design like at Red Bull ?

No. But I do think Newey should not be TP.

Richard

[diffuser]

I was under the impression that Cowell would get his job back as soon as he cleaned up the mess with Honda.

That's what I was expecting as well. If left where he is, I don't think he will remain with this team for long. I quite Mercedes because he was sick of managing engine development.

#5 The only thing AN sucked at was diplomacy.
#6 If you need someone just to talk to the media, why not let Krack do it. He's very good at it.

struture..

    Adrian Newey
    /     |     \
Cowell Cardille TP

I don't know. Maybe Honda appreciates blunt honesty.
Krack already seems to be the spokesperson. By the way is the team principal required to attend the FIA press conferences, or anyone from the team can be sent?

And Cowell would remain an engine liaison? I doubt he's be satisfied.

To me... that has significant risk of disfunction. What experienced TP would want to operate in those conditions? What if Newey not having someone to tell him "no" is part of the problem?

If he IS a master manager in addition to supreme technologist and is able to look at his own desires dispassionately and keep himself under control then maybe this will work.

Richard

If it's meant for Technical decisions it might be optimal. I don't think Newey wants to deal with bureaucracy and politics, etc.
I don't Newey needs anyone to tell him anything, he F1 teams' technical departments since forever. He is the one who says no.

Yeah, I don't have a problem with Krack having the "artificial" title of TP. He was that before...TP in name only. As CEO, Cowell should be responsible of the PU. Doesn’t mean he can't leave someone in charge in Japan that he trusts with a small group and come back to the UK, AFTER we get past this mess.

[CMSMJ1]

I've seen a report that Wheatley will become TP?

Anyone else?

[TyreSlip]

I've seen a report that Wheatley will become TP?

Anyone else?

There would be a big enough gardening leave not to help Aston Martin any time soon. Why would Wheatley go through all of that trouble to move to Audi and suddenly switch?

[Rikrikrik]

I've seen a report that Wheatley will become TP?

Anyone else?

There would be a big enough gardening leave not to help Aston Martin any time soon. Why would Wheatley go through all of that trouble to move to Audi and suddenly switch?

Money

[V10FURY]

I am waiting until the Miami weekend to see what Aston can do to get on top of these issues. I don’t expect much relief from the current debacle in Japan as it is not enough time to do a major overhaul. This extra month off with both races in the Middle East being cancelled is exactly what the team needed to focus on getting these vibration/ reliability issues sorted out. That’s why I think Miami is going to be the first actual race for this team , not Japan.

If they can find a solution to those massive vibrations then they can at least finish a race without damaging the car or drivers. The question after that is what kind of deficit does the engine have in horsepower to the Mercedes? Is it the rumored 100hp? That seems ridiculous that Honda could only manage to get 400 hp out of a 1.6 liter V-6 Turbo engine revving to 12,000 rpm plus…Is the engine making 500 hp in racing trim but loosing more power than the other teams when it is clipping/ super clipping? That would make more sense as I find it difficult to believe that Honda can’t get 500 hp out of this motor. Or does Mercedes simply have 600 hp with their 18:1 compression engine cheat? If the Honda is down more than 50hp then we will need to wait until 2027 at the earliest for this team to be competitive and more likely 2028. It will require a complete engine redesign, or a change in manufacturer to help this team.

Perhaps the team will be sold to BYD and they will take over the operation completely. Then who knows what engine will be powering these cars in the future. Let’s see how much patience Stroll Sr has to throw money at this project with these awful results.

[FNTC]

I've seen a report that Wheatley will become TP?

Anyone else?

There would be a big enough gardening leave not to help Aston Martin any time soon. Why would Wheatley go through all of that trouble to move to Audi and suddenly switch?

Money

And working in UK instead of Germany, Switzerland, etc.

[ScottB]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/adri ... /10806482/

How many months will Wheatley get in the gig before he's replaced or shuffled aside for, say, Horner as CEO?

I get that money and talented people often backing themselves to succeed where others have failed is a thing, but come on. I think he's nuts to feed himself into this meat grinder, with how many Team Principals, CEOs, Execs etc etc have already been burned through. I'd much rather be reporting to Audi's board than a deluded billionaire, too.

[FNTC]

Adrian Newey is set to step down from his team principal position at the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, where he’ll be replaced by current Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley.

Motorsport understands Newey will step down in order to focus exclusively on technical matters, as Aston Martin has experienced a more than underwhelming start to the 2026 F1 season. Power unit trouble with new partner Honda means the Newey-designed AMR26 currently can’t complete a whole race.

Wheatley has been working at Audi since last May alongside CEO Mattia Binotto but will therefore return to England after just 10 months. The timing of the move depends on his Audi contract.

Aston Martin’s Silverstone campus is located just 20 miles away from Red Bull’s F1 headquarters, where Wheatley spent 20 years of his career.

I wonder what kind of gardening leave he can negotiate. Hopefully as short as possible.

[FNTC]

And for the people and media framing it as if Newey was fired or demoted, here is from when he was made TP in November, from the 2025 team topic:

Newey saying Cowell volunteered to move to the power unit integration role, and it left the TP role open. And I just noticed he said "Since I am going to be doing all the EARLY RACES anyway" he did it himself. So when does the actual Horner gardening leave end? Very interesting that he said early races.

They sent Cowell to Japan to deal with the Honda problems back then, so just made Newey TP until they could find a replacement. I was thinking Horner at the time, but maybe he either is not accepted by Newey, or maybe his demands were too high. Wheatley seems like a solid enough TP, if true.