Fernando Alonso Confirms Aston Martin Completed Barcelona Test Program Despite Delay

Fernando Alonso confirmed Aston Martin completed its planned testing program in Barcelona, despite arriving over three days late and completing the fewest laps of any team. The two-time champion described his first run in the new AMR26 as a "special moment" at the start of a new regulatory cycle, but emphasized significant work remains before the season opener in Australia.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing is a critical, limited opportunity to gather data and understand a new car, especially under fresh technical regulations. For a team like Aston Martin, which has ambitious goals to return to the front, missing over half the official test window represents a substantial setback in preparation and data collection for the competitive season ahead.

The details:

• Severe Delay: Aston Martin was absent from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the opening three and a half days of the pre-season test, only arriving and running on the final day and a half.
• Limited Running: The team recorded the lowest lap total of any participant. Alonso managed 61 laps in the AMR26 on the final day, while teammate Lance Stroll completed only four.
• Program Completion: Despite the severely truncated schedule, Alonso stated the team executed its planned program for the time it had on track, gathering essential data.
• Alonso's First Impressions: The Spaniard called driving the new car a "special moment," noting the unique feeling at the start of a new regulation cycle. He added that experienced drivers can quickly sense a car's general direction.
• Team Priority: Alonso highlighted that completing mileage with a reliable car was the main objective for this initial phase, a goal they achieved in their limited window.

What's next:

The focus shifts entirely to the gap between now and the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March.

• Alonso was unequivocal about the workload ahead, stating, "We have a lot of work still to do before we head to Melbourne."
• The team will analyze the data collected in Barcelona intensively, aiming to optimize the AMR26's setup and address any issues discovered during the brief run.
• With such limited track time, the pressure will be on during the next test and the opening practice sessions in Melbourne to make up for lost development time and refine the car's performance.