Fernando Alonso will be keeping a close eye on the state of Aston Martin’s 2026 car after what has been a worrying start to pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Just three days remain before the Australian Grand Prix kicks off, and among all teams, Aston Martin are the ones facing the most questions.
The team showed up late to the Barcelona shakedown, and both Lance Stroll and Alonso have since run into a host of early problems.
Lance Stroll has had several technical setbacks with limited track time so far, while Honda’s GPS data has revealed they might have been hit hardest by the new power unit rules. The power unit appears to be having the most trouble after regulation changes.
Adrian Newey’s squad also seemed slower than expected, even trailing Cadillac at times. That’s raised eyebrows given how ambitious their plans are for this season.
Fernando Alonso under added pressure at Aston Martin after Bahrain testing issues
Roberto Chinchero discussed the situation at Aston Martin on the Motorsport YouTube channel, saying: “There are so many processes involved that even the Barcelona tests were completed at the last minute because they renewed all the production processes.
“It is clear that Honda is behind schedule. I believe the rumours are correct that they are not running with a more powerful engine for fear of reliability issues.
“The car, and this is perhaps the biggest surprise, seems to have some significant teething problems.
“However, problems with the single-seater, theoretically, if they are not structural or conceptual problems with the design, can be resolved or at least greatly limited with further development.
“If you have a significant engine deficiency, then the alarm is louder because you cannot intervene on the engine between now and Bahrain.
“It should be certified after six races if there is a power gap, after which you have the extra budget and opportunity to work on it.”
The start of 2026 has been anything but smooth for Aston Martin. The team has already fallen behind its testing plans due to setbacks in Barcelona. Alonso’s feedback hasn’t been positive either – he stepped out of his first proper run feeling frustrated about more than just technical issues.
This season marks Alonso’s third year with Aston Martin since joining from Alpine. Last year saw him secure eight podium finishes in a competitive campaign, although he only managed three across 2024 and 2025 combined as Red Bull continued to dominate under Max Verstappen.
Aston Martin’s priorities ahead of the Australian Grand Prix after troubled Bahrain testing
The main priority for Aston Martin heading into the final test in Bahrain is clear: maximise track time and gather as much data as possible.
Williams, despite skipping the Barcelona shakedown, have already logged more mileage than any other team across their two filming days and the early runs in Bahrain.
Alonso didn’t hide his frustration last week, and unless Newey and Honda can pull off something unexpected, both he and Stroll might struggle just to escape Q1 in Melbourne, never mind compete for points.
It will be a critical season for Alonso who turns 45 later this year. While he has spoken about plans beyond racing, he’ll want to finish his career on stronger terms than this. Aston Martin need answers quickly if they’re going to turn things around before serious doubts take hold.
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