Formula 1 is all change in 2026 with the biggest regulation changes of the century set to shake the running order up.
There’s every possibility that the undisputed dominance of both Red Bull and Mercedes comes to an end after over 15 years.
McLaren became the first team other than the aforementioned two to win a title by claiming the Constructors’ Championship in 2024.
They’re the only team to have developed from a midfield outfit to a front-running competitor in recent times.
Aston Martin showed a lot of promise in 2023, but have taken steps backwards ever since with some poor development choices.
After signing Adrian Newey and retaining Fernando Alonso for another few years, there is hope that the Silverstone-based outfit can yet compete at the front from 2026.
Why ‘everyone’ is backing Aston Martin for F1 success in 2026
Alonso thinks Newey will bring ‘magic’ to Aston Martin in their bid to climb back up the Formula 1 grid from 2025.
They’re a team that can afford to abandon their 2025 campaign and focus on the new regulations earlier than anyone else, with the excuse that their mastermind designer could benefit from additional resources.
Alonso has warned Newey he might struggle with Aston Martin’s performance in 2025, watching on as they put a poor car on track which had regressed at the back end of last season.
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The Race’s Ben Anderson thinks that everyone is backing them for success from 2026 and that their new partnership with Honda could be important too.
“Aston seems to be the horse that everyone is theoretically backing for 2026,” he said.
“They are the team that can most afford to throw away 2025 to focus on the new rules. Plus they’ve got the ingredients like Newey and Honda coming together.”
Why Aston Martin are geared towards 2026 F1 success
David Coulthard has wagered Newey won’t spend 17 years at Aston Martin, but that’s expected given that he is now 66 years old.
This new project is probably going to be the last that he tries to tackle before entering a well-earned retirement.
Enrico Cardile is expected to be under pressure at Aston Martin in 2026 as well, with their jobs on the line if they cannot deliver a competitive car.
READ MORE: How Max Verstappen’s camp responded to Aston Martin’s reported £1bn Formula 1 contract
Lawrence Stroll has invested heavily in the team in recent years, implementing some impressive infrastructure that should set them up for long-term success.
Success comes at a cost though, and if his son – Lance Stroll has another poor season, then he may be forced to sack him from the team.
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