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via f1technical.netFernando Alonso praises Aston Martin's qualifying progressFernando Alonso highlighted Aston Martin's best qualifying performance of the 2026 season, achieving a strong 12th place at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Alonso urged caution despite this milestone, as both he and Lance Stroll advanced to Q2 during the session.
via Motorsport WeekFernando Alonso details Aston Martin ‘miracle’ after shocking Sepang resultFernando Alonso praised Aston Martin's performance at the Sepang Circuit, where both he and teammate Lance Stroll advanced to the second round of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Alonso achieved a season-best qualifying position of P12, while Stroll qualified 14th, marking a surprising result given the team's ongoing struggles with power deficits this season.
Despite the positive outcome, Alonso remained cautious, noting that the team is still less competitive compared to others. He expressed concerns about losing positions during the race due to the speed of faster cars starting behind them, indicating that while the qualifying result was impressive, the team must remain grounded about their overall performance.
via RacingNews365Honda send clear message as Aston Martin smash through stumbling blockHonda's trackside general manager Shintaro Orihara acknowledged Aston Martin's achievement of getting both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll into Q2 during the Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying. This marked a significant milestone as it was the first time both drivers progressed beyond Q1 together this season, with Alonso starting from P12 and Stroll from P14.
The result is particularly noteworthy given the challenges faced by Honda and Aston Martin in their first season as a works team. Orihara highlighted the importance of data analysis and preparation in achieving this result, which he described as a positive step forward amidst ongoing integration issues and performance shortfalls.
via Formula1.comFernando Alonso calls Aston Martin's Bahrain result a miracleFernando Alonso described Aston Martin's performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix as a 'miracle' after achieving a season-best qualifying result. This marked the first time both Aston Martin cars reached Q2 this year, highlighting a significant improvement for the team.
via RaceFansVerstappen claims pole position at Bahrain Grand PrixMax Verstappen secured his first pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton qualified in second place, marking his fifth consecutive front-row start at the Sepang circuit.
via RacingNews365Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on Malaysia front rowMax Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will start on the front row for the Formula 1 race in Malaysia, marking the first event in the country in nine years. Aston Martin also made headlines during qualifying, achieving a significant result this season.
via Motorsport.comLewis Hamilton praises Fernando Alonso's talentLewis Hamilton has expressed admiration for Fernando Alonso following his contract extension with Aston Martin. The seven-time Formula 1 champion described Alonso's skills as 'pure talent', earning Hamilton widespread praise from fans on social media.
via f1oversteer.comAnthony Davidson left ‘flabbergasted’ after watching Lance Stroll’s onboard camera at SepangDuring the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix practice session, Anthony Davidson expressed his confusion after observing Lance Stroll's unusual driving technique. Stroll's aggressive steering inputs during FP2 left Davidson unable to comprehend the rationale behind his actions, which included multiple steering adjustments before turning into a corner. Stroll ultimately finished the session in 18th place, significantly off the pace set by Charles Leclerc, who topped the timesheets.
Davidson noted that Stroll's driving style resembled that of Fernando Alonso during his successful years with Renault. Despite Stroll's lack of prior experience at Sepang, Davidson found it perplexing that he would employ such an aggressive approach. This incident adds to a pattern of unusual driving styles exhibited by Aston Martin drivers this season.
via gpfans.comFormer Aston Martin boss claims team is slower than F2 cars in grim data verdictOtmar Szafnauer, the former team principal of Aston Martin, stated that the Formula 1 team was slower than every Formula 2 car in a straight line during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He made these comments on the High Performance Podcast, highlighting the team's struggles with their Honda engines and suggesting that financial constraints related to the cost cap might be affecting their development for the 2027 season.
Szafnauer's claim about Aston Martin's performance was based on free practice data, which showed the team lagging behind F2 cars. However, it was noted that the Aston Martins performed better during the race, exceeding the F2 baseline speed. Despite the criticism of the team's current performance, Szafnauer acknowledged that they might be focusing on future developments while managing their budget.
via f1oversteer.comDamon Hill responds to claims Adrian Newey's Red Bull success 'wasn't all his own work'Damon Hill has come to the defence of Adrian Newey, who is currently facing criticism for his performance at Aston Martin. Hill, who has worked closely with Newey in the past, highlighted Newey's impressive track record in Formula 1, particularly during his time with Red Bull, and expressed confidence that Newey can turn things around at Aston Martin despite the team's current struggles.
Hill also addressed the challenges faced by Honda, the engine supplier for Aston Martin, noting their need for focus and direction to improve their competitive standing. He believes that with the right guidance, Honda can make significant progress, and he pointed out that the current deficit could lead to substantial advancements in the future.
via f1oversteer.comDavid Coulthard tells Aston Martin to ‘be careful’ because Adrian Newey is starting to work magicAdrian Newey is under huge pressure to turn things around at Aston Martin after what has been a dreadful 2026 campaign. After joining the team ...
via CrashFernando Alonso explains motivation for Aston Martin stayFernando Alonso has revealed that his decision to continue his Formula 1 career with Aston Martin is driven by a desire to compete at a high level. He expressed that the team's potential and his personal passion for racing are key factors in his commitment to stay until at least 2027.
via gpfans.comF1 champion Fernando Alonso handed career-high payday at the age of 45Fernando Alonso has secured a new contract with Aston Martin that reportedly makes him the highest-paid driver of his career at the age of 45. The deal, which will take effect in 2027, is said to exceed $40 million annually, surpassing his previous earnings at McLaren.
In an official statement, Alonso expressed his happiness about the contract and his commitment to the team. This new salary positions him as the joint-third highest-paid driver in Formula 1, behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, while overtaking other notable drivers like Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
via PlanetF1Lawrence Stroll acknowledges Aston Martin's engine issuesLawrence Stroll has stated that Aston Martin is currently missing two seconds in engine performance, which is impacting their competitiveness. He emphasised the team's commitment to winning but acknowledged the challenges they face in achieving that goal.
via CrashLance Stroll highlights two-second deficit with HondaLance Stroll has expressed concern over Aston Martin's performance, stating the team is currently missing two seconds in engine performance compared to competitors. This follows Honda's recent engine upgrade, which Stroll described as insufficient to close the gap.
via PlanetF1Max Verstappen addresses Alonso GT3 partnership rumoursMax Verstappen has dismissed speculation about teaming up with Fernando Alonso in GT3 racing. The Dutch driver confirmed his next appearance in GT3 machinery following his recent Aston Martin deal.
via AutosportHonda reveals second engine upgrade for 2026 seasonHonda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe confirmed that the team has introduced its second engine upgrade for the 2026 Formula 1 season, which was first fitted to Lance Stroll's Aston Martin during the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite this development, Stroll noted that Honda is still facing significant performance deficits.
via Motorsport.comHonda introduces second engine upgrade for Aston MartinHonda has confirmed the introduction of its second engine upgrade for the 2026 Formula 1 season, which was first fitted to Lance Stroll's Aston Martin during the Spanish Grand Prix. The upgrade focuses on a revised turbocharger and is part of Honda's strategy to enhance performance for both Stroll and Fernando Alonso.
via thejudge13.comAston Martin quietly explores Mercedes engine return as Honda concerns growAston Martin is reportedly considering a return to Mercedes engines as team owner Lawrence Stroll has made discreet inquiries about the possibility. This comes amid a challenging 2026 season where Aston Martin has struggled with its Honda-powered package, currently sitting tenth in the constructors' championship with only three points.
Former driver Christian Danner highlighted the performance issues with Honda, particularly in integrating the combustion engine with the electrical components under the new regulations. While Aston Martin remains committed to Honda for now, the potential design provisions for a Mercedes power unit in their next car suggest serious consideration of alternatives as concerns about their current partnership grow.
via f1oversteer.comHonda horsepower figures show the 2027 season is already a bust for Fernando Alonso at Aston MartinFernando Alonso has committed to Aston Martin for the 2027 season, but he remains critical of the Honda engine's performance. The team is reportedly 70 horsepower behind competitors like Mercedes, which has raised concerns about their competitiveness under the new Formula 1 regulations.
Despite the disappointing start to the season, Aston Martin intends to stick with Honda and evolve their current power unit. Alonso's worries about the engine's performance suggest that the team may struggle to compete at the front of the grid until significant improvements are made.Page 1 of 13