Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lance Stroll has acknowledged a difficult start to 2026 pre-season testing for Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team, with the AMR26 failing to demonstrate competitive foundations under Formula 1’s new power unit regulations.
The Silverstone-based outfit recorded the lowest lap count across the Barcelona shakedown and the opening three days of running in Bahrain. Limited mileage has significantly restricted aerodynamic correlation work and mechanical balance evaluation, placing the team at a developmental disadvantage compared to direct rivals.
Quantitatively, Stroll stated that Aston Martin is currently around four seconds off the early competitive benchmark. He completed just four laps in Barcelona and 105 at the Bahrain International Circuit, figures that underline the scale of the operational setback ahead of the season opener in Australia.
When asked whether there were any positives to take from the AMR26, Stroll delivered a remark that reflected the level of internal frustration.
“Um, the livery looks nice.”
Team-mate Fernando Alonso has encountered similar difficulties in establishing a stable performance baseline. The technical project, shaped in part by the influence of Adrian Newey, is now racing against time to resolve fundamental weaknesses before competitive action begins.
“Time will tell how much performance we can extract from it. Right now, the issues we have — we’re trying to improve it every run, every day, and we’ll see how much more we can extract from the car.”
Asked to clarify the root cause of the problems, Stroll emphasised that the deficit is not attributable to a single weakness but rather a combination of technical factors interacting under the new regulations.
“It’s a combination of things — engine balance, grip — it’s not one thing; it’s a combination.”
With the 2026 regulations demanding precise integration between aerodynamic efficiency, power unit balance and mechanical grip, failing to establish a competitive baseline at this stage carries significant risk. Aston Martin now faces a decisive final test window to reduce its deficit before the championship campaign officially begins in Melbourne.
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