Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey has stated the "best philosophy" of F1 car under the championship's sweeping new regulations will not be "immediately obvious" as the season gets underway.
The AMR26 is the first challenger produced by the team under the guidance of the legendary aerodynamicist, who joined the Silverstone squad last year.
His remit has expanded in recent months to encompass wider-reaching duties, but the new car has been designed by him and is therefore the most eagerly anticipated chassis on the 2026 grid.
When the AMR26 turned up at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, it quickly became evident that it was one of the more radical concepts adopted across the paddock, but Newey insists it will be some time before it becomes clear which direction is the right one.
Underlining the "rare moment" F1 finds itself at, with new power unit and chassis rules being implemented simultaneously, the Briton explained the "holistic approach" the Lawrence Stroll-owned team has employed.
"2026 is a rare moment in Formula 1 because, for the first time, the chassis and power unit regulations have changed together," Newey said upon the livery launch of the AMR26.
"With brand-new regulations, the best philosophy is never immediately obvious, and your understanding evolves as the car develops.
"With the AMR26, we’ve taken a holistic approach: it’s not about one standout component, but how the full package works together.
"The focus has been on strong fundamentals, development potential, and a car that Lance [Stroll] and Fernando [Alonso] can hopefully extract performance from consistently."
Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were consigned to a combined 65 laps of running in Spain during the private test at the end of January, which was the lowest of the 10 teams that made it out to the Catalan track.
With the team becoming the Honda works entry from this season, it is the dawn of an exciting new era for Aston Martin. But with it come even higher expectations.
Stroll and Alonso will be hoping for more consistent time on circuit when pre-season resumes with the first official test, in Bahrain this week, as the team looks to build back from its seventh-place finish in the 2025 F1 constructors' standings.
What do you think of the AMR26's livery? Let us know by voting below in the latest poll by RacingNews365!
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look ahead to the first of two three-day tests in Bahrain! The trio discuss who to keep an eye on and the fascinating approaches being taken to car development in 2026.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!