Aston Martin's recovery will be 'a long process,' says Vandoorne

Aston Martin's reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne has tempered expectations for a quick fix to the team's deep-seated problems, stating its recovery from a disastrous start to the 2026 season will be "a long process." The team, which had high hopes with Adrian Newey on board, is instead battling at the back of the grid with a car plagued by a faltering Honda engine and severe vibrations, with meaningful updates not expected until the Miami Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

The stark underperformance of Aston Martin, despite the high-profile acquisition of design legend Adrian Newey, is one of the season's biggest shocks and raises serious questions about the team's development trajectory. A prolonged slump could impact driver morale, particularly for Fernando Alonso in what may be his final seasons, and undermine the massive investment aimed at establishing the team as a consistent front-runner.

The details:

• Vandoorne, a long-time reserve and test driver for the team, confirmed the start to the year has "certainly not been easy" and that fixes will not come overnight due to the scale of changes implemented for the new regulations.
• The primary issues with the AMR26 are identified as an unreliable Honda power unit and debilitating vibrations, severely hampering the car's drivability for both Alonso and Lance Stroll.
• Intensive work is underway at both Honda's factory in Japan and Aston Martin's base in Silverstone, but Vandoorne admitted it is currently "difficult to put a timeline" on when improvements will translate to on-track performance.
• The first significant package of updates is targeted for the Miami Grand Prix, though the team is not anticipating a major points haul there, suggesting the focus is on incremental gains and understanding the car better.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the Miami Grand Prix to see if the planned updates can provide a tangible step forward in performance and reliability. The coming races will be critical for Aston Martin to stem the bleeding, gather data, and begin the long climb back to respectability. If progress remains elusive, pressure will mount on the technical team to deliver more radical solutions later in the season.