UPDATE: Aston Martin’s highly anticipated AMR26 F1 car made its debut on January 29, 2026, during the fourth day of the Barcelona Shakedown, but the excitement quickly turned into frustration as the vehicle encountered issues after just a few laps. This late arrival to testing had been previously confirmed by the team, with the car only reaching the circuit on Wednesday night.
Fans were eager to catch a glimpse of the AMR26 as it took to the track for the first time, albeit in a black placeholder livery instead of Aston Martin’s traditional green. The anticipation surrounding Adrian Newey’s design vision for the new 2026 regulations has set the stage for a thrilling season. Newey is revered as one of the most influential figures in F1 design history, and this early look at his creation drew significant attention.
F1 pundit Karun Chandhok shared his excitement on social media, praising the car’s design. He exclaimed, “Look at those sidepods!!” accompanied by mind-blown emojis, highlighting the innovative features that are expected to shake up the competition. Chandhok further commented on the car’s rear suspension, stating, “Err…. That rear suspension is going to get other teams talking… and thinking!!”
However, the AMR26’s first outing was cut short. Driver Lance Stroll managed only four slow laps before encountering a problem at the end of the pit lane, prompting a red flag and effectively ending that segment of testing. Aston Martin has not disclosed the cause of the stoppage, and given the private nature of the test, fans might wait a while for answers. Notably, Aston Martin’s issues were not isolated, as McLaren also faced setbacks, completing only 48 laps due to a fuel system fault.
Despite the challenges, Aston Martin’s short stint on track allowed them to log more mileage than Williams, who did not run at all. The team is scheduled for two more testing sessions before the season officially kicks off in Melbourne on March 8, 2026.
As the clock ticks down to the season opener, all eyes will be on Aston Martin and the performance of the AMR26. With Newey’s design prowess in play, fans and teams alike will be eager to see how this car evolves and its impact on the upcoming championship. Stay tuned for further updates as the testing progresses and more developments unfold.
