Aston Martin remains convinced Adrian Newey can rescue their dismal 2026 season, despite sitting second-to-last in the constructors' standings. Lead driver Fernando Alonso bluntly called the AMR26 "the worst car and the worst engine" on the grid, placing them just ahead of the fledgling Cadillac project.
Team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa, who previously raced Newey-designed McLarens, insists Newey's core genius is unchanged. De la Rosa highlights Newey's unique ability to translate driver feedback directly into car improvements, often prioritizing driver feel over pure data. He recounts a 2005 instance where Newey identified an understeer issue from de la Rosa's steering input, later delivering front wing changes that fixed the problem.
Aston Martin isn't pursuing smaller, frequent upgrades. Instead, they’re betting on a significant package for Spa, while Honda works to improve its power unit. This puts immense pressure on Newey and his team to deliver, hoping to give fans "something to cheer about" in the second half of the season.
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