Lance Stroll has shared his first impressions after debuting Aston Martin’s long-awaited 2026 F1 automotive.
The primary Aston Martin produced by legendary designer Adrian Newey lastly broke cowl within the ultimate hour of F1’s behind-closed-doors shakedown take a look at in Barcelona on Thursday.
Stroll drove his Honda-powered AMR26 slowly for 4 laps earlier than coming to a purple flag when he stopped on the observe.
“It felt good,” stated Stroll, who drove Aston Martin’s 2026 automotive. “It is nice to be again within the automotive after a number of weeks off.
“Everybody did an amazing job getting the automotive prepared. It was a protracted day for all of the mechanics and the entire staff working laborious to get the automotive prepared.
“I ran a number of laps on the finish of the day and it felt good.”
The AMR26 induced fairly a stir after making its belated first look on observe on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.
Aston Martin’s brand-new Challenger has lastly arrived in an all-black camouflage livery, however the first photographs of the AMR26 reveal a particular nostril, sidepod and engine cowl design that could be very totally different from its earlier rivals.
Fernando Alonso obtained his first style of Newey’s daring AMR26 machine on Friday.
Aston Martin has overcome ‘massive adjustments’
AMR26 designed by Adrian Newey
Reflecting on Aston Martin’s late arrival in Barcelona, chief trackside engineer Mike Clack stated: “We’re clearly in a little bit of a novel scenario. We welcome Honda, our new energy unit associate. We have constructed a gearbox for the primary time in a few years and we’ll be combining that with new chassis laws, new energy unit laws.”
“Basically, it is a worst-case and a best-case state of affairs, nevertheless it’s a giant change as a staff to be a works staff, a manufacturing unit staff with these laws. And with Adrian coming in, it is all very thrilling and a giant change.”
“F1 does not anticipate you, so you need to be prepared. We’re slightly late, however we have reached this take a look at and I believe we may be proud and pleased with the consequence.”
“In fact, the connection[with Honda]continues to be new, and when you might have such a protracted relationship along with your earlier associate, you need to get to know the individuals, get to know the names, learn to work with one another, what are the expectations, what are the tasks, all that sort of stuff.
“Nevertheless it was a very good begin. There have been some smiles between us and them. In fact, our purpose is to make use of this time now to combine as a lot as potential and learn to work collectively. I am very assured. They’re racers, very open and up for a problem. It is actually nice and I am wanting ahead to persevering with that relationship.”
