Newey: 'Aston Martin failed to listen to drivers properly'

Aston Martin boss Adrian Newey has openly admitted that the team failed in its communication with drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in 2026. The squad's competitive output speaks volumes; the Aston Martin-Honda package ranks as the slowest on the grid, yielding a paltry single point across nine races.

Two-time world champion Alonso was particularly vocal regarding the lack of incremental improvements. The team chose to delay upgrades, driven partly by cost cap constraints and partly by a rushed initial development schedule for the 2026 car. This allowed rivals to pull away—a "painful, but necessary" choice, according to Newey.

Newey acknowledges that it must have been "extremely frustrating" for his drivers to race uncompetitively. He now feels compelled to hold extensive discussions with Alonso and Stroll concerning planned upgrades and the road toward 2027. "When people feel they aren't being listened to, they get frustrated; that's a human reaction," he stated, pointing to a potential shortage of time spent between staff and drivers.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. A major aerodynamic overhaul for the Aston Martin, also aimed at shedding weight—the car is reportedly 10–15 kg overweight—is scheduled for the Hungarian Grand Prix. A second phase of these upgrades will follow at Zandvoort, where Honda will also introduce its sole engine upgrade of the season.

According to Newey, postponing development during the first half of the season was a strategic move to reinforce the organisation internally and lay a superior foundation for the future. He hopes the current struggles, plagued by performance and reliability issues, will soon become a "distant, painful memory."

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