2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[Honda Porsche fan]

I don't expect huge improvements in Japan for AM, just minor vibration improvements and focusing on reliability finishing the race. Maybe the big updates are coming around Miami/Canada with the B-spec engine ?

[Sasha]

Do not expect anything this weekend except some more testing.
I think they are planning to park the cars again during the race.
Like they know the vibrations will not be fixed until they get the new design MGU-K.
PU Spec B

[TyreSlip]

This Jack Crawford decision to race him in FP1 might be a sign AM is phasing out Fernando Alonso and there might be a change to the driver lineup for 2027.

It might be a sign that Alonso does not want to simply do laps with a Honda engine that is a waste of his talent. Until things improve, getting the rookie FP1 session out of the way makes sense.

[CHT]

Do not expect anything this weekend except some more testing.
I think they are planning to park the cars again during the race.
Like they know the vibrations will not be fixed until they get the new design MGU-K.
PU Spec B

Alonso assessment on their current situation. For sure AMR need a new engine, which likely mean a completely new chassis and aero package, and to deliver them within budget cap.

“We still have too many issues and too many unknown issues that are coming day after day from nowhere, so it seems that we are not on top of the problems yet and that’s why it’s difficult to guess.”

“I hope by a couple of Grands Prix we can have a normal weekend, well, at least in terms of doing laps and completing the sessions,” he said.

“Then to be competitive, I think that will take more time, to be honest, because once we fix the reliability then we will be behind in terms of power and things,” Alonso continued.

“There are two steps, let’s say, and hopefully the first step will come soon.”

[Honda Porsche fan]

Lawrence Stroll is throwing lots of $$$ at this program in the UK. Honda needs to deliver on it's end.

[PinkFloydPulse]

Are there any Aston Martin and Honda fans here? Or, only Alonso loyalists?

What did Alonso do with a Mercedes engine in 2024 and 2025 ? Oh, that's the chassis' fault ? Nothing is Alonso's fault.

Alonso has been replaced by Crawford for FP1, if Alonso is so important to the team then why not replace Stroll with Crawford ?

This was a possible political decision as well, this is Honda's home race and they're not interested in Alonso possibly flipping out over the radio i.e. "GP2!!! GP2!!!"

You don't replace your supposed top driver with a rookie. This is AM's way I believe of shaking things up and looking for a new driver lineup for 2027. Again, I personally hope it's Max Verstappen and Jack Crawford or, if Jack doesn't show promise then go after Liam Lawson, Arvid Linblad, Gabriel Bortoleto or Oliver Bearman.

Lawrence Stroll is throwing lots of $$$ at this program, then be aggressive and get a top driver lineup, heck try to bring in Max and Antonelli and really mess with Mercedes and Toto.

troll, get out of here...

[Honda Porsche fan]

Behind the scenes, it seems Aston Martin is slowly purging top talent from other teams and building up AM with now over 800+ employees.

One of Mercedes' engine advantages in compression ratio will be taken away June 1st by the FIA which will benefit all non-Mercedes teams which will help Honda.

[Honda Porsche fan]

Honda has a strong engine from 2019 to 2025 (7 straight seasons) and they fall back and slump for the first 2 races and some people are acting like the whole world is falling apart and given up on life and Honda will never again improve.

They got big improvements coming throughout the season. Mercedes compression ratio advantage is gone by June 1st.

[Ashwinv16]

This Jack Crawford decision to race him in FP1 might be a sign AM is phasing out Fernando Alonso and there might be a change to the driver lineup for 2027.

Max Verstappen and Jack Crawford at AM next season would be great.

I don't expect huge improvements in Japan for AM, just minor vibration improvements and focusing on reliability finishing the race. The big updates are coming around Miami/Canada with the B-spec engine.

Litrelly mentioned on the post they made the change to allow FP1, they need him for simulator correlation.

Again suzuka engine is very different they need to learn how much they need to deploy and stuff like that so they need Jack feedback to set up and correlate the simulator.

[Honda Porsche fan]

This Jack Crawford decision to race him in FP1 might be a sign AM is phasing out Fernando Alonso and there might be a change to the driver lineup for 2027.

Max Verstappen and Jack Crawford at AM next season would be great.

I don't expect huge improvements in Japan for AM, just minor vibration improvements and focusing on reliability finishing the race. The big updates are coming around Miami/Canada with the B-spec engine.

Litrelly mentioned on the post they made the change to allow FP1, they need him for simulator correlation.

Again suzuka engine is very different they need to learn how much they need to deploy and stuff like that so they need Jack feedback to set up and correlate the simulator.

What are the big differences with the Suzuka engine ?

[diffuser]

Are there any Aston Martin and Honda fans here? Or, only Alonso loyalists?

What did Alonso do with a Mercedes engine in 2024 and 2025 ? Oh, that's the chassis' fault ? Nothing is Alonso's fault.

Alonso has been replaced by Crawford for FP1, if Alonso is so important to the team then why not replace Stroll with Crawford ?

This was a possible political decision as well, this is Honda's home race and they're not interested in Alonso possibly flipping out over the radio i.e. "GP2!!! GP2!!!"

You don't replace your supposed top driver with a rookie. This is AM's way I believe of shaking things up and looking for a new driver lineup for 2027. Again, I personally hope it's Max Verstappen and Jack Crawford or, if Jack doesn't show promise then go after Liam Lawson, Arvid Linblad, Gabriel Bortoleto or Oliver Bearman.

Lawrence Stroll is throwing lots of $$$ at this program, then be aggressive and get a top driver lineup, heck try to bring in Max and Antonelli and really mess with Mercedes and Toto.

troll, get out of here...

Each team must run a rookie driver in FP1 twice per car per season.
That means:
- Each race driver’s car must be given up twice to a rookie.
- So across a team, that’s 4 FP1 sessions total (2 per car).
for every team.




You don't need a any drivers when you have a GP2 PU.

[Honda Porsche fan]

If both Aston Martin cars can finish the Japanese GP and finish in the top 15, it's obviously a improvement but, if they can finish in the top 12 that's quite a BIG improvement in such a short period of time from where they started the season.

[diffuser]

This Jack Crawford decision to race him in FP1 might be a sign AM is phasing out Fernando Alonso and there might be a change to the driver lineup for 2027.

Max Verstappen and Jack Crawford at AM next season would be great.

I don't expect huge improvements in Japan for AM, just minor vibration improvements and focusing on reliability finishing the race. The big updates are coming around Miami/Canada with the B-spec engine.

Litrelly mentioned on the post they made the change to allow FP1, they need him for simulator correlation.

Again suzuka engine is very different they need to learn how much they need to deploy and stuff like that so they need Jack feedback to set up and correlate the simulator.

What are the big differences with the Suzuka engine ?

Honda said there will be no change to the homologated parts. I presume that Honda will probably make changes to motor mounts, move weights around and stuff like that, to try and off set harmonics. F1 uncharted said AM F1 were gonna make some changes to the chassis, don't know what, to offset for vibrations.

[SSJ4]

troll, get out of here...

Each team must run a rookie driver in FP1 twice per car per season.
That means:
- Each race driver’s car must be given up twice to a rookie.
- So across a team, that’s 4 FP1 sessions total (2 per car).
for every team.




You don't need a any drivers when you have a GP2 PU.

What did Alonso do when Aston Martin was using a Mercedes engine and Mercedes gearbox and Mercedes rear suspension for multiple seasons ?

finished p4 in 2023 in the 5th fastest car, in some races it was the slowest. only driver to finish a race in top 5 2024 outside of the big teams. 2024,2025 cars were both dogs. give alonso a competent chassis and engine no one on the grid gets more out of it than alonso. we'll have to see if either can be provided this season

[Honda Porsche fan]

Litrelly mentioned on the post they made the change to allow FP1, they need him for simulator correlation.

Again suzuka engine is very different they need to learn how much they need to deploy and stuff like that so they need Jack feedback to set up and correlate the simulator.

What are the big differences with the Suzuka engine ?

Honda said there will be no change to the homologated parts. I presume that Honda will probably make changes to motor mounts, move weights around and stuff like that, to try and off set harmonics. F1 uncharted said AM F1 were gonna make some changes to the chassis, don't know what, to offset for vibrations.

Just because Honda says that, do you believe that? F1 teams cheat and push the limits often.

Teams are claiming Mercedes was/is cheating and not being forthcoming with compression ratio possibly having their engines have 18:1 or higher compression ratio. The FIA will restrict that now. The only reason they were caught was a former employee who was working there left and is working for another team spilt the beans.

I don't care about any "official Honda" press releases. Did Mercedes have any official press releases telling the public their engines were 18:1 or higher compression ratio ?