Aston Martin falls short of expectations: Franco Colapinto points to “a lot of work ahead”
Colapinto noticed the lack of performance and reliability with the Honda engine: "They surprised me a lot, we'll see how they fare in Australia."
Expectations were sky‑high for Aston Martin heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season. With a new era of regulations on the horizon, the Silverstone‑based team had brought in several key figures — most notably Adrian Newey — to build what many hoped would be a championship‑level project. On paper, Lawrence Stroll had assembled all the right pieces, and on track, Fernando Alonso was expected to squeeze every last drop of performance out of the new AMR26.
But as the two‑time world champion reunited with Honda power, the entire paddock was stunned by how limited the car looked throughout what became one of the longest preseason testing periods in recent memory.
Despite having ample time to run, evaluate upgrades, and refine the package, the team boasting the sport’s most celebrated designer and some of the most advanced facilities in modern F1 found itself battling both poor performance and worrying reliability issues with its power unit. Now, Aston Martin faces a long road to recovery — and plenty of unanswered questions.
Franco Colapinto, for one, didn’t hide his surprise. Speaking to ESPN Argentina, the Williams driver admitted he expected something very different from the Silverstone squad. “Aston Martin surprised me a lot,” he said. “We’ll see how they arrive in Australia (the first Grand Prix of the season, March 6–8), but they surprised me in the opposite way. They’ve got things to work on.”
A positive outlook for Alpine in the midfield battle
Colapinto also broke down the situation from his own perspective after a round of testing where he had hoped to see more from the AMR26. For him, Aston Martin’s struggles could open the door for a tighter midfield fight — and he’s encouraged by Alpine’s progress.
“I think we worked well,” he said. “After being so far back in 2025 (they finished last in the Constructors’ standings, prompting Renault to rethink the project), this year we’ve taken a step forward, which is a good start. And I’m sure more upgrades will come as the season goes on.”
The top teams still on another level
Even with concerns surrounding the new engine regulations, Colapinto remains optimistic heading into the first race. And unlike his surprise at Aston Martin’s lack of pace, he sees nothing unusual at the front of the grid.
“The top four teams — we already knew they were going to be strong,” he explained. “Sometimes the gap surprises you, because when you hear that every team has been developing the car since January 1 and then you see a two‑second difference, you wonder how that’s possible. But that’s just each team’s philosophy.”
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