De la Rosa: Newey leadership has kept Aston ‘calm and united’

Pedro de la Rosa believes Adrian Newey’s leadership has been the glue holding Aston Martin together during a bruising 2026 season, helping the team avoid panic while it works to fix a fundamentally compromised car.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin entered F1’s new regulations with high hopes, but the AMR26 arrived late and carried issues – including severe Honda power unit vibrations – that left the team near the back. Newey’s presence has provided stability, but the real test is whether that calm can translate into a competitive future.

The details:

• De la Rosa says the team’s problems were baked in before the car hit the track. Newey only arrived on March 2, 2025, and Aston’s new wind tunnel wasn’t fully operational until a month later.
• “Everything started like three to four months too late,” the Spaniard told Motorsport Week. Honda’s decision to withdraw from F1 before returning also delayed the power unit programme.
• Newey issued an unusually stark warning after pre-season testing, but the recovery has been gradual. A substantial upgrade in Hungary delivered Aston Martin’s first Q2 appearance of the season, while Honda has gained from extra development opportunities under the 2026 rules.
• De la Rosa insists engineering talent matters more than infrastructure, and Newey’s leadership has been critical in keeping the squad “calm and united.” He says having Newey and chief technical officer Enrico Cardile on board made a difficult situation far more manageable.

What's next:

Aston Martin must now turn improved understanding of the AMR26 into tangible results. The 2026 season may be a write-off, but de la Rosa believes the foundations are finally being put in place – and that the lessons learned will shape a stronger future.