Aston Martin is the final team on the grid to host their launch event for the 2026 season. The team has unveiled its challenger for the upcoming season, the AMR26, Aston Martin’s first car designed by Adrian Newey.
A new era for Aston Martin
Amid the technical regulation overhaul and a change in power unit supplier, another significant change for Aston Martin entering the 2026 Formula 1 season is the change in leadership. Adrian Newey takes over the role of Team Principal of the team, as part of an extension of his role as Managing Technical Partner. Newey also played a significant role in the design and development of the team’s 2026 livery, the AMR26.
The AMR26 is primarily coloured in the team’s signature British Racing Green, paired with black details across the side pods and lower half of the car. The chassis also features a matte finish instead of the usual glossy finish.
The AMR26 marks a new era for Aston Martin. Not only would this be the team’s first car under the new regulations, but it will also be the first designed under Newey’s lead. Newey is widely considered to be the most successful Formula 1 car designer with an unmatched record of designing championship-winning cars across four different decades and myraid of teams. Aston Martin will be looking to capitalise on Newey’s success and experience in the upcoming season.
A season of redemption
Aston Martin concluded the 2025 Formula 1 season seventh in the Teams’ Championship, two places below where the team finished in the earlier two campaigns. Alonso found himself struggling to score points in the first half of the season before receiving upgrades during Round 9 in Barcelona. He soon found his rhythm, scoring points at every round up till the summer break. Strong performance in the second half of the season, as well as a sixth-place finish at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, helped Alonso rise in the Standings to a top 10 finish.
On the other hand, Stroll started off the 2025 season on a higher note. A finish in sixth at the season opener in Melbourne marked his best result of the season. In the second half of the season, proved difficult for the Canadian driver, who only scored a total of 7 points.
Aston Martin will be looking to redeem themselves in the upcoming season. Now, with a chassis designed by Newey and a Honda as a new unit supplier, they will be looking to prove themselves as a worthy title contender on the grid.
Aston Martin’s driver lineup
The Silverstone outfit will be entering the 2026 Formula 1 season with the same driver pairing for the fourth consecutive campaign of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Alonso will be entering his 23rd season in Formula 1 and his 4th season with Aston Martin. The Spanish driver may have struggled in the first half of the 2025 season; however, the team’s upgrade proved to be effective as he found himself on a point-scoring streak. Alonso concluded the season with a top ten finish in the standings with 56 points to his name. Despite the dip in performance in the 2025 season, the Spanish driver enters the upcoming season motivated by the team’s major reset. Now, driving a Newey-designed livery, he will be aiming for his third driver’s title.
On the other side of the garage is Lance Stroll, who will be entering his 8th season with the team. He concluded the season 16th in the Standings with a total of 33 points to his name. It was a challenging season for the Canadian despite the impressive start. Similar to Aston Martin, the upcoming 2026 season will be a season of redemption for Stroll, who will be looking to maximise his potential on track with the AMR26.
