Adrian Newey has revealed that his first Aston Martin car for the 2026 Formula 1 season is being shaped with a very different mindset. Rather than chasing immediate performance, the focus is on getting the core principles of the car absolutely right from the start.
Newey explained that this design philosophy prioritises strong fundamentals over early optimisation. The aim is to avoid a car that peaks too soon, even if that means sacrificing some short-term gains at the beginning of the season.
By taking this “opposite” approach, Aston Martin hopes to create a platform that can be developed continuously. The car is intended to respond well to upgrades as the season progresses, allowing performance to grow race by race.
This strategy reflects the major regulation changes coming in 2026, where understanding the basics of the new rules could prove more valuable than extracting every last detail early on. Newey believes this will provide greater
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