The Aston Martin Formula One team has confirmed a significant delay in their pre-season preparations, announcing that their highly anticipated AMR26 car will not hit the track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until Thursday at the very earliest. This development means the team will miss at least one full day of their allocated three-day testing window during this critical first pre-season session.
Second Team to Face Testing Setback
This announcement positions Aston Martin as the second F1 squad to encounter substantial testing difficulties in Spain this week. Earlier, the Williams team revealed they would be completely unable to participate in any track running during the Barcelona test. The concurrent issues affecting two separate constructors have raised eyebrows across the paddock, particularly given the importance of this testing phase.
Testing Schedule and Team Participation
The Barcelona test represents the first of three scheduled pre-season sessions, running from Monday through Friday this week. Each team is permitted to utilise three of the five available days to evaluate their newly designed cars, which have been built to comply with sweeping new technical regulations and feature updated power units for the 2026 season.
In an official statement addressing the delay, Aston Martin clarified their revised plans: "The AMR26 will be in Barcelona later this week for its shakedown. Our intention is to run Thursday and Friday." This condensed schedule will now provide drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll with, at best, only two combined days behind the wheel during this initial test.
Concerns Over AMR26 Development
While not necessarily catastrophic, the delayed debut of the AMR26 will undoubtedly cause concern within the team and among its supporters. The car holds particular significance as the first complete design overseen by the legendary Adrian Newey since he assumed the dual role of chief designer and team principal. The postponement may indicate that considerable work remains to be completed on the vehicle before it can be deemed track-ready.
Under the ambitious ownership of Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin has invested enormous resources into their F1 project. This includes constructing a state-of-the-art new factory complex and wind tunnel at their Silverstone headquarters. The team entered this regulation cycle with genuine optimism that Newey's technical leadership, combined with the fresh rulebook, could propel them toward the front of the grid.
Speculation Surrounding the Delay
The team has not publicly disclosed specific reasons for the testing delay. However, during last week's launch event for their new Honda power unit in Tokyo, senior figures from the Japanese manufacturer expressed concerns that their engine was not yet performing at the required level. With the season opener in Melbourne fast approaching on March 8th, any power unit reliability or performance issues could have a cascading effect on car readiness.
Other Teams Take to the Track
In contrast to Aston Martin and Williams, seven other teams successfully commenced their testing programmes on Monday. Mercedes, Audi, Alpine, Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Haas, and Red Bull all completed installation laps and initial runs. Ferrari is scheduled to begin their track running on Tuesday, while reigning champions McLaren have yet to confirm whether they will start testing on Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Barcelona test is being conducted behind closed doors, with teams prioritising mileage accumulation and system checks during what is still considered a "shakedown" phase. Two further, more comprehensive tests are scheduled to follow in Bahrain. Information emerging from the circuit remains extremely limited, but it was noted that all seven participating teams on Monday completed laps well into double figures—a promising start given the scale of the regulatory changes.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was particularly busy, logging over twenty laps within the first two hours of running. As the week progresses, all eyes will be on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to see which teams have successfully adapted to the new era of Formula One regulations and which, like Aston Martin, are facing an uphill battle against the clock.
