With full focus on the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations, Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have had a slow start to the 2025 season as the team currently sit eighth in the Constructors’ Standings.
Following the British GP, Stroll responded to questions about the team’s progress on the 2026 car. Though hopeful about the team’s potential, the Canadian driver expanded on his negative viewpoint on the new regulations overall.
Development in progress with Newey in charge
Ahead of 2026, Aston Martin successfully recruited the highly esteemed Adrian Newey. When asked for an update on the 2026 car in a print media session at Silverstone, Stroll responded stating that he does not have much information himself. He stressed that although he has limited knowledge, the 2026 car is Newey’s focus.
“A bit of understanding, not much development. It’s just new. Most of that’s Adrian Newey, not so much myself, but a bit of an idea. It should be pretty different.”
As the new regulations will likely shake up the order of team performance, fans can anticipate an interesting F1 2026 season. Despite this, Stroll did not share this enthusiasm for the regulations themselves.
“I don’t know if the regs are so exciting, but it’s a relative game and if you have a fast car, then they are exciting. We’ll see what next year brings.”
Unsure of true performance until the first race
An extended testing period for the 2026 season was announced earlier this year. This will allow teams to gain a better understand of their new car designs ahead of the first race in Australia.
Even with this extended testing period, Stroll does not think the team will understand their pace relative to the rest of the field for quite some time. He believes this will only be clear after the season’s first qualifying session in Australia.
“I don’t know what everyone else’s car looks like. It’s going to be about when everyone shows up in, is it Australia the first race next year? You get a bit of an idea in the test, but then Saturday afternoon you get a better idea how everyone looks in Australia. We’ll see when that day comes around. But the regulations, I don’t know, a bit sad if you ask me.”
Disappointed with first impression of 2026 car in simulator
Stroll shared that he has already driven Aston Martin’s 2026 car in the simulator. Reporters asked whether the experience of driving it was strange, to which Stroll agreed.
“That’s why it’s a bit sad. I think it’s a bit of a shame. Formula 1’s just taking that path of electric energy and we’ve had to shut all the downforce off the cars to support the battery power.”
The Aston Martin driver was positive about some aspects of the new regulations, such as lighter cars. Despite this, he spoke on Formula 1 shifting its philosophy to be more reliant on electrical energy and that he would prefer a less energy-dependent championship.
“It should be fun to see some light, nimble, fast cars with a lot of downforce, and just simplify the whole thing a little bit. Less so of an energy battery championship science project, and more of just a Formula 1 racing championship.”
2026 racing to be dominated by energy deployment: ‘I don’t know if that’s racing’
Energy deployment will become a much more critical aspect of race craft in 2026. Stroll shared his reservations about this.
“A lot of it’s about that. I don’t know if that’s racing. But it’s going to be the same for everyone next year, and it’s all going to be about who can do that best. I’m sure whoever’s doing that best is going to love the new regs. That’s what it’s all about.”
Though openly not a fan of the concept of the regulations, he did share that opinions among the teams and drivers may change depending on who adapts to the regulations the best.
“I’m not a fan of the direction, but if we have a fast car, and we’re competitive, doing better than everyone else, that’s when you’ve got nothing to complain about.”
Stroll was not shy to openly share his current distain for the 2026 regulations. The Canadian driver hinted that although his competitors may share the same opinions, they may be more hesitant to criticise them.
“I don’t love the idea of the regs, though. I think a lot of the drivers can agree on that. Maybe some of them can’t talk about it for political reasons. But I think it’s exciting to think about cars that can scream a little bit louder, be a bit lighter, and just not focus so much on that energy. Battery, powertrain, that’s not very racy.”
