Aston Martin’s Bold Leap: Newey, Honda and the AMR26 Era
Aston Martin is poised to enter a new chapter in its Formula 1 history with the unveiling of the AMR26 livery on February 9th in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This launch isn’t just about a new paint scheme; it signifies a fundamental shift for the Silverstone-based team, marked by the arrival of Adrian Newey and a strengthened partnership with Honda.
The Newey Factor: A Design Revolution
The AMR26 represents the first Formula 1 car designed by Adrian Newey although at Aston Martin. Newey’s reputation precedes him, having penned championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull Racing. His involvement immediately elevates Aston Martin’s technical capabilities and signals an intent to compete at the very highest level. The expectation is that Newey’s aerodynamic expertise will translate into a significant performance boost, addressing previous shortcomings in the car’s design.
Honda’s Return: An Exclusive Power Unit Partnership
Alongside Newey’s design prowess, Aston Martin welcomes an exclusive engine partnership with Honda. This collaboration is more than just a supply deal; it’s a full integration, as highlighted by Koji Watanabe of Honda in recent statements. The partnership aims for a deep synergy between chassis and power unit development, maximizing performance gains. Honda is clearly invested in this new chapter, with Watanabe mentioning late-night calls between teams to ensure seamless integration.
Launch Details and Viewing Options
The launch event will take place on Monday, February 9th, with timings as follows: Local time: 22:00, GMT: 19:00, CET: 20:00, PST: 11:00, EST: 14:00, JST: 04:00 (Tuesday, February 10th), and CST (China): 03:00 (Tuesday, February 10th). Fans can watch the event live on Aston Martin’s social media channels and Sky Sports F1. An extended version will be available on the Aston Martin TikTok channel 45 minutes prior to the main launch (18:15 GMT).
Key Personnel at the Launch
The launch event will feature key figures including executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, and team principal and managing technical partner Adrian Newey. Representatives from technical partners Aramco, Honda, and Valvoline will similarly be present, underscoring the collaborative nature of the project.
Testing Schedule and Season Outlook
The AMR26 will hit the track for pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11th to 13th, with a further testing session scheduled from February 18th to 20th. The 2026 season will kick off with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6th to 8th. Honda is keenly observing the car’s ‘behaviour’ during these tests, according to recent reports, to fine-tune the power unit integration.
Did you know?
The launch event will feature a performance by cellist Jodok Cello, playing music from The World of Hans Zimmer, adding a unique artistic element to the technical unveiling.
FAQ
- When is the Aston Martin AMR26 launch? Monday, February 9th.
- Where can I watch the launch? Aston Martin’s social media channels and Sky Sports F1.
- Who designed the AMR26? It’s the first Aston Martin F1 car designed by Adrian Newey.
- Who is Aston Martin’s engine partner for 2026? Honda.
Explore more about the upcoming F1 season and team preparations on Motorsport.com.
