Progress at Aston Martin despite a difficult start F1 season
24th March 2026Aston Martin has endured a difficult start to the season, but the team maintains that important progress is being made behind the scenes.
Feature image credit: Aston Martin F1
At the season opener in Australia, both drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, were affected by severe car vibrations, which not only compromised performance but also raised concerns about potential hand injuries.
Reports within the team suggested that the issue significantly limited how long the drivers could remain in the car, highlighting the seriousness of the problem. Neither driver reached the chequered flag in Melbourne, reinforcing the difficult start to Aston Martin’s campaign.
The situation showed little improvement at the Chinese Grand Prix. Although both drivers initially gained positions following pre-race issues for other competitors, reliability problems once again defined the team’s race. A suspected battery issue forced Stroll to retire early, while Alonso was also unable to finish after experiencing persistent vibrations in the cockpit.
Across both opening rounds, Aston Martin has struggled not only with pace but also with consistency and reliability.
Engine partner Honda has faced its own challenges as well, in balancing performance and reliability with concerns already emerging during pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, despite the difficult results on track, the team insists that valuable progress is being made in areas that are not immediately visible.
Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack addressed this during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, underlining the importance of data collection and long runs. He said
“I think you would probably be laughing if I said we have made progress because today it did not look like massive progress.
“But when I look, for example, we have never done so many laps. On the energy side, it is something that I think every team will confirm. You discover new things by running alone, but you also discover things when you run with others.”
Whether Aston Martin can translate this unseen progress into tangible results remains to be seen, as the team looks ahead to the upcoming round in Japan.
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