Alonso reveals weekly Newey talks to fix Aston Martin's 2026 slump

Fernando Alonso has opened up about his weekly discussions with Adrian Newey as Aston Martin tries to escape the bottom of the 2026 Formula 1 standings. With one point from seven races and no upgrades until the summer break, the two-time champion is counting on the legendary designer’s long-term vision to fix the troubled AMR26.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin’s dreadful start comes from chassis, engine, and gearbox issues that have left it behind even newcomer Cadillac. Newey’s presence offers the team its best hope for a real turnaround, making his collaboration with Alonso vital to halting the slide and rebuilding confidence ahead of a major reset.

The Details:

• Alonso told media he speaks with Newey weekly, noting the managing technical partner studies driver feedback in detail when at the track.
• Newey is already focused on the summer-break upgrade package, planning how it will fix corner-specific handling problems seen in Monaco.
• He is also thinking ahead to Singapore, tailoring solutions for future street circuits rather than applying short-term patches.
• The AMR26 suffers from gear-sync losses at low speeds due to the team’s first in-house gearbox, compounding engine and chassis weaknesses.
• In Barcelona, the car was the slowest on the grid, underscoring the scale of the recovery task.

What's next:

Aston Martin faces a long wait for its major upgrade package around the summer break. Newey’s forward-thinking approach shows the team is betting on a decisive mid-season reset instead of small tweaks. If the package works, Alonso and Lance Stroll could find relief later in the year; until then, patience and precise feedback are their strongest assets.