Alonso Pole Record

Lore & Background

The AMR26 is powered by the Honda RA626H power unit. During pre-season testing, the Honda engine showcased numerous deficits, including lower mileage than other teams, three breakdowns over all tests, and a fastest time four seconds slower than rival power units. Honda confirmed that vibrations in the engine were damaging the battery system. The poor performance and unreliability led Honda to use up most of their spare parts during the Bahrain test, leaving them unprepared for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix to the point that they considered skipping the round by qualifying within the 107% rule and retiring early to conserve parts.

Honda admitted that the engine vibrations were strong enough that driving the car for an extended period of time could cause nerve damage. For the first race, the team considered a run limit of 25 laps before retiring both cars. At the Australian Grand Prix, Alonso failed to finish after suffering an engine issue, but became the first driver to be sent back out into the race after retiring since Sergio Pérez in the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix, before then retiring for a second time.

Stroll was also sent back into the race after retiring, and finished 15 laps down but was not classified. The vibrations were reportedly resolved by the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, where Alonso finished in 18th, marking Aston Martin's first finish of the year. The team scored its first point at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Reader's Guide

The AMR26 features significant changes from its predecessor due to new technical regulations for 2026. It is the first Silverstone-built Formula One car to use a Honda power unit since the Jordan EJ12, and the first Aston Martin designed by Adrian Newey and Enrico Cardile. The car debuted at a private pre-season shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 27 January. The livery, revealed on 9 February 2026, features a satin finish, a darker airbox, and a light blue rear wing.