Lance Stroll has expressed satisfaction with his initial test running in Aston Martin’s new Honda-powered AMR26, despite managing just five laps before a technical issue curtailed his first F1 outing of 2026 at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The Canadian driver had the honour of christening the latest Adrian Newey-designed machine on Thursday, the fourth day of pre-season shakedown testing, as Aston Martin joined its rivals at the Spanish circuit. Only Williams remained absent from the session.
The 27-year-old’s debut in the AMR26 came after an extended day of preparation by the team’s mechanics, with the car having arrived in Spain late on Wednesday evening. Stroll finally emerged from the Aston Martin garage during the final hour of Thursday’s F1 test to complete an installation lap before returning to the pits.
Technical difficulties cut running short
A second stint on track followed shortly after, but proved fleeting. After completing only a handful of laps, a technical problem forced Stroll to halt the car as a precautionary measure. Track marshals detected an electrical issue, potentially related to Honda’s new power unit, through the car’s LED lighting system and signalled the driver to stop.
Despite the abbreviated outing, Stroll remained upbeat about his first taste of the new machinery.
“It felt good,” Stroll told F1TV, “nice to be back in the car after a few weeks off.”
“Everyone did a good job getting the car ready. It was a long day for all the mechanics and everyone in the team, pushing flat-out to get the car ready.”
“We got a few laps in at the end of the day, and it was feeling good.”
Months of work come to fruition
Thursday’s brief running represented the culmination of months of intensive work from both Aston Martin and Honda, who have joined forces as the Silverstone-based team’s new engine partner. The collaboration, spearheaded by design legend Newey, has generated considerable anticipation, with Fernando Alonso supporters reportedly attempting hill climbs around the circuit to catch a glimpse of the newest Newey creation in action.
Stroll acknowledged the magnitude of the project and expressed enthusiasm for the season ahead.
“Big project, very complex,” he said, “a lot of hours have gone into this machine, so it was nice to get behind the wheel and get used to the new Honda power unit and these new cars.”
“Exciting.”
Alonso to take over on final day
The AMR26 will see further action on Friday, the final day of the shakedown, with Alonso scheduled to take over driving duties from his teammate.
When asked about Aston Martin’s objectives for the concluding day of testing, Stroll outlined a straightforward plan: “Just more laps, more learning. We have to learn the car, understand its strengths and weaknesses. Just collect more information on these new cars.”
Aston Martin will hope for a more productive Friday session as they continue to acquaint themselves with their new Honda partnership and Newey’s latest creation ahead of the new F1 season.
