2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[Ashwinv16]

Marko told Austrian publication Oe24: "I’ve been in contact with him (Newey). He’s not doing well. There are problems with this project that won’t be solved quickly.”

Why won't be solved quickly?

1) Honda need to rebuild a new engine with new MGU-K layout
2) New engine will require new chassis and aero package
3) Chassis and aero package cannot be done without engine information
4) Honda may also need to rebuild their battery as they may be behind other team in ERS

Can Honda produce a world championship capable engine in just 3 to 6 months? I doubt its going to happen.

Yeeah I wouldn't trust Marko either.

[V10FURY]

I want to see what the team have in place in Miami which should give a clearer picture of the level of disaster Honda and Aston are facing. If it is a diabolical as that report then Stroll should be on the phone to Audi for next year as that is beyond unacceptable. This project will need 2-3 years to recover with Honda if it is that bad. I am hoping that report is complete nonsense and we can see a turn around starting in the next 3 months.

As for Aston Martin’s fortunes and Lawrence Stroll hemorrhaging cash this is a good read here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton ... ion-again/

[Honda Porsche fan]

Until the FIA implements new rules and regulations on automakers on how they enter F1 and leave F1 this cycle will continue with companies like Honda that come in and out.

You can't make/force an automaker to come into F1 or stay in F1 but, you can regulate them and set in place specific rules they have to abide by.

The FIA can set in place specific performance goals the automakers have to meet before they are allowed to race on the grid in Australia...

For example, an automaker has to have their engine in the back of a race car being tested on the race track a full year before they officially race on the grid in Australia.

They have to complete a full race distance during testing before they can race in Australia.

Their lap times have to be within a certain number of seconds of the top 5 finishers of the previous season.

An automaker competing in F1 has to give their customer teams 2 full years notice ahead of time if they decide to pull out of F1.

There needs to be more testing time on the race track as well.

[ispano6]

Marko told Austrian publication Oe24: "I’ve been in contact with him (Newey). He’s not doing well. There are problems with this project that won’t be solved quickly.”

Why won't be solved quickly?

1) Honda need to rebuild a new engine with new MGU-K layout
2) New engine will require new chassis and aero package
3) Chassis and aero package cannot be done without engine information
4) Honda may also need to rebuild their battery as they may be behind other team in ERS

Can Honda produce a world championship capable engine in just 3 to 6 months? I doubt its going to happen.

There have only been two championship winning engines manufacturers in the last decade. Ferrari and Renault could not in 10 years. It took Honda 5 years. Give it time.

[collindsilva]

I want to see what the team have in place in Miami which should give a clearer picture of the level of disaster Honda and Aston are facing. If it is a diabolical as that report then Stroll should be on the phone to Audi for next year as that is beyond unacceptable. This project will need 2-3 years to recover with Honda if it is that bad. I am hoping that report is complete nonsense and we can see a turn around starting in the next 3 months.

As for Aston Martin’s fortunes and Lawrence Stroll hemorrhaging cash this is a good read here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton ... ion-again/

Yes, Miami will be a real indicator, Japan will be only face saving, even if AMR manages to finish the race distance with 1 car it would be a miracle.

[Honda Porsche fan]

The B-spec engine won't be raced until either Miami or Canada. The compression ratio ban won't take effect till June 1st.

Seeing how far Honda is behind, I think a more realistic time frame might be around Silverstone July 5 to get an idea ?

This is a development season for Honda. Maybe a top 10 finish by Mexico City November 1st ?


Honda would not be this far behind or, they would not have been allowed to do this to Aston Martin if the FIA had rules in place regulating these automakers and making sure their engine was tested on the race track a year before they are allowed to race in Australia.

Automakers should not be allowed to force an independent customer team to waste their entire season to develop a new engine as independent teams rely a lot on the earnings in the Constructors championship for revenue.

[peewon]

Marko told Austrian publication Oe24: "I’ve been in contact with him (Newey). He’s not doing well. There are problems with this project that won’t be solved quickly.”

Why won't be solved quickly?

1) Honda need to rebuild a new engine with new MGU-K layout
2) New engine will require new chassis and aero package
3) Chassis and aero package cannot be done without engine information
4) Honda may also need to rebuild their battery as they may be behind other team in ERS

Can Honda produce a world championship capable engine in just 3 to 6 months? I doubt its going to happen.

Yeeah I wouldn't trust Marko either.

There is no good reason for Marko to be giving false information in this situation. Marko has many flaws but he is usually frank and forthright, specially in regional media. Hes saying very specific things and I dont think its made up.

[peewon]

[

There have only been two championship winning engines manufacturers in the last decade. Ferrari and Renault could not in 10 years. It took Honda 5 years. Give it time.

Renault was always underfunded and never intended to win. Ferrari got nerfed by the FIA.

It took Honda 6 seasons and 8 years since the announced return to F1 to win. They were still the second best PU manufacturer that season, even if it was by a small margin (as per Japanese sources: https://f1-motorsports-gp.com/honda/hon ... 1h-1014hp/). That championship was won because of Redbull's aero. Had Honda partnered with any other team they would not have won any championships either.

Honda can absolutely repeat the scenario and become competitive with the benchmark set by Mercedes. But not anytime soon. It also doesnt excuse the fact that they have come to the grid with a shambolic PU twice now which is comically noncompetitive.

[Nikosar]

What will be Wheatley gardening leave ?

[Badger]

Well. It seems like everyone was wrong. It's worse than even the worst predictions.

Everyone? Many of us viewed the talks about fixes in Japan or Miami with great skepticism. The Spa timeline seems more reasonable for a proper patch to arrive, but even then it may be too early for a real fix. And the big question is what will they be left with when they fix the vibrations? Because what they are working on now is a critical flaw in the engine, not catching up on performance.

[CHT]

[

There have only been two championship winning engines manufacturers in the last decade. Ferrari and Renault could not in 10 years. It took Honda 5 years. Give it time.

Renault was always underfunded and never intended to win. Ferrari got nerfed by the FIA.

It took Honda 6 seasons and 8 years since the announced return to F1 to win. They were still the second best PU manufacturer that season, even if it was by a small margin (as per Japanese sources: https://f1-motorsports-gp.com/honda/hon ... 1h-1014hp/). That championship was won because of Redbull's aero. Had Honda partnered with any other team they would not have won any championships either.

Honda can absolutely repeat the scenario and become competitive with the benchmark set by Mercedes. But not anytime soon. It also doesnt excuse the fact that they have come to the grid with a shambolic PU twice now which is comically noncompetitive.

My concern with Honda their ability in the ERS development as I believe RBPT2026 (now RB Ford PT) have started working on the 2026 ERS development without Honda since 2024. Perhaps this is the reason why Alonso said, at the start of the race, we are equal on the battery, but once race start, its world championship of battery.

For this reason, the challenges may actually be worst than thought because ICE side of PU is easier for Honda to fix.

[etusch]

[

There have only been two championship winning engines manufacturers in the last decade. Ferrari and Renault could not in 10 years. It took Honda 5 years. Give it time.

Renault was always underfunded and never intended to win. Ferrari got nerfed by the FIA.

It took Honda 6 seasons and 8 years since the announced return to F1 to win. They were still the second best PU manufacturer that season, even if it was by a small margin (as per Japanese sources: https://f1-motorsports-gp.com/honda/hon ... 1h-1014hp/). That championship was won because of Redbull's aero. Had Honda partnered with any other team they would not have won any championships either.

Honda can absolutely repeat the scenario and become competitive with the benchmark set by Mercedes. But not anytime soon. It also doesnt excuse the fact that they have come to the grid with a shambolic PU twice now which is comically noncompetitive.

My concern with Honda their ability in the ERS development as I believe RBPT2026 (now RB Ford PT) have started working on the 2026 ERS development without Honda since 2024. Perhaps this is the reason why Alonso said, at the start of the race, we are equal on the battery, but once race start, its world championship of battery.

For this reason, the challenges may actually be worst than thought because ICE side of PU is easier for Honda to fix.

I heard during lasst motogp race that Honda canalised all the sources to F1 pu development for the moment. I don't know if it is true.
I think if the issue with the pu is ers, it is easier compared to engine. Still I think it is because of mgu-k structure. It's one side is nearly free and when we think honda worked on vibration of mgu-k while it was placed side of the engine during previous formula, in this layout, it will vibrate, it will vibrate more and harder and when we think about its place, we can understand why it damages battery. If what I said is true, maybe they need to change its placement fully.
When the vibration issue is solved, it's all about electronics and long works on simulation to determine best recovery and deployment map. More simulation driver and simulator is so important I think.

[CHT]

Renault was always underfunded and never intended to win. Ferrari got nerfed by the FIA.

It took Honda 6 seasons and 8 years since the announced return to F1 to win. They were still the second best PU manufacturer that season, even if it was by a small margin (as per Japanese sources: https://f1-motorsports-gp.com/honda/hon ... 1h-1014hp/). That championship was won because of Redbull's aero. Had Honda partnered with any other team they would not have won any championships either.

Honda can absolutely repeat the scenario and become competitive with the benchmark set by Mercedes. But not anytime soon. It also doesnt excuse the fact that they have come to the grid with a shambolic PU twice now which is comically noncompetitive.

My concern with Honda their ability in the ERS development as I believe RBPT2026 (now RB Ford PT) have started working on the 2026 ERS development without Honda since 2024. Perhaps this is the reason why Alonso said, at the start of the race, we are equal on the battery, but once race start, its world championship of battery.

For this reason, the challenges may actually be worst than thought because ICE side of PU is easier for Honda to fix.

I heard during lasst motogp race that Honda canalised all the sources to F1 pu development for the moment. I don't know if it is true.
I think if the issue with the pu is ers, it is easier compared to engine. Still I think it is because of mgu-k structure. It's one side is nearly free and when we think honda worked on vibration of mgu-k while it was placed side of the engine during previous formula, in this layout, it will vibrate, it will vibrate more and harder and when we think about its place, we can understand why it damages battery. If what I said is true, maybe they need to change its placement fully.
When the vibration issue is solved, it's all about electronics and long works on simulation to determine best recovery and deployment map. More simulation driver and simulator is so important I think.

To get the ERS working and reliable is possible, but to beat the best on the grid within 6 months that is harder part.

[dr_cooke]

ALO is already a father. Congrats to him and wifey, but no more 130R risky moves this weekend (even if he had the car to do so...)

"Following Fernando Alonso’s audacious 2005 130R overtake on Michael Schumacher, he claimed he knew Schumacher would brake because he was a father of two, saying, "I knew he'd brake, he has a wife and two kids at home. I don't". The move, at 208 mph, highlighted their different stakes"

I was there that day, in the Hairpin, though.

[Rikrikrik]

ALO is already a father. Congrats to him, but no more 130R risky moves this weekend (even if he had the car to do so...)

"Following Fernando Alonso’s audacious 2005 130R overtake on Michael Schumacher, he claimed he knew Schumacher would brake because he was a father of two, saying, "I knew he'd brake, he has a wife and two kids at home. I don't". The move, at 208 mph, highlighted their different stakes"

I was there that day, in the Hairpin, though.

He should seize the moment, especially in Japan, and announce his retirement to take care of his son, instead of getting involved in this joke that is Honda.