Adrian Newey has admitted he is unsure whether the design philosophy behind Aston Martin's 2026 Formula 1 car will prove successful, following the car's late reveal at a private test in Barcelona. The car, the AMR26, features a unique design with a wider nose, thin sidepods with a heavy undercut, and a cut-away engine cover, setting it apart from rivals.
Newey, who joined Aston Martin as team principal in 2025 after leaving Red Bull, acknowledged the compressed development timeline. A model of the car only entered the team's new wind tunnel in April 2025, putting them four months behind some competitors. 'That put us on the back foot,' Newey said, adding that the car 'came together at the last minute.'
The design legend stressed the uncertainty inherent in new regulations. 'With a completely new set of regulations, nobody is ever sure what the right philosophy is,' he told Aston Martin's website. 'We decided on a particular direction... Whether that proves to be the right one or not, only time will tell.'
Newey rejected the label of 'aggressive' for his design, but noted it has 'quite a few features that haven't necessarily been done before.' He emphasised a focus on development potential: 'We've tried to do the opposite [of an optimised car], really focusing on the fundamentals, knowing that appendages like wings and bodywork can be changed in season.'
Aston Martin will participate in six days of pre-season testing in Bahrain before the 2026 season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March. Newey remains cautious but optimistic: 'There's more to come – and lots to learn.'
