Formula 1 News: Adrian Newey Urges Open Minds on AMR26
In the high-stakes world of Formula One, where innovation meets scrutiny, Aston Martin Aramco’s AMR26 has emerged as one of the most talked-about cars ahead of the 2026 season. The car’s debut at the Barcelona Shakedown turned heads with its unconventional features, sparking debates across the paddock and beyond.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
In an exclusive interview with the team, legendary designer Adrian Newey (pictured) —now also serving as Team Principal—sheds light on the philosophy behind the machine, the challenges overcome, and why fans should approach it with an open mind.
A Holistic Approach to Revolutionary Regulations
The 2026 F1 regulations represent a seismic shift, introducing new power units and chassis rules simultaneously for the first time in the sport’s history. Newey, renowned for his aerodynamic wizardry across decades with teams like Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, emphasizes a “holistic” design strategy for the AMR26. “We took a really close look at the regulations and what we believe we want to achieve from a flow field perspective to suit them, and from there started to evolve a geometry that attempts to create the flow fields that we want,” he explains.
Yet, even Newey admits uncertainty in this uncharted territory. “With a completely new set of regulations, nobody is ever sure what the right philosophy is,” he says, laughing off suggestions that his track record exempts him from doubt. The team committed to a specific direction due to time constraints, incorporating features that “haven’t necessarily been done before.” While some might label it aggressive, Newey demurs: “I never look at any of my designs as aggressive. I just get on with things and pursue what we feel is the right direction.”
Key elements include the overall packaging, front and rear suspension geometries tailored for flow manipulation, a revamped front wing and nose, sidepods, and a notably different rear treatment. Newey highlights the car’s tight packaging—a signature of his designs—achieved through close collaboration with mechanical engineers. “The car is tightly packaged. Much more tightly packaged than I believe has been attempted at Aston Martin Aramco before,” he notes with a grin.
Overcoming a Compressed Timeline
Aston Martin’s journey to the AMR26 wasn’t without hurdles. Newey joined the team in March 2025, and the state-of-the-art CoreWeave Wind Tunnel only became operational in April, putting them four months behind rivals who began aero testing in January. “It’s been a very compressed timescale and an extremely busy 10 months,” Newey reflects. The car only hit the track on the final days of the Barcelona Shakedown, a nerve-wracking moment for the team.
Despite the late start, the focus was on fundamentals with high development potential. “We’ve attempted to build something that we hope will have quite a lot of development potential,” Newey says, aiming to avoid a car that’s optimized early but plateaus. Drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso should benefit from a more drivable machine compared to the tricky 2022-2025 ground-effect era.
As Team Principal, Newey views his role as fostering a culture of collaboration rather than a hands-on overhaul. “In many ways, to me, it’s simply a title. The role within the team is to try to provide a direction, an ethos, a culture, that we all work by,” he states.
Powering Forward with Key Partners
The 2026 regs emphasize sustainable fuels, and Newey praises title partner Aramco’s pivotal role in developing fuels tailored to Honda’s new power unit. “Without having a technical partner and fuel supplier with Aramco’s expertise, Honda’s development of the power unit would be restricted,” he asserts. Similarly, Valvoline is crafting lubricants to boost efficiency, drawing on their century-long motorsport heritage.
Newey sees sustainable fuels as a cornerstone for carbon neutrality, complementing rather than competing with electric or hydrogen technologies. “Sustainable fuel is a huge energy solution for the future… It’s really exciting that Formula One is embracing that,” he says.
The CoreWeave Wind Tunnel, dubbed the world’s best for F1, integrates AI and advanced compute power for airflow analysis. Newey teases specialized AI applications in tasks like race strategy, noting the rapid evolution of the tech: “What’s new now will be pretty much out of date in 12 months.”
Looking Ahead: Evolution Over Revolution
The AMR26 spotted at shakedown is just the beginning. “The car that races in Melbourne is going to be very different to the one people saw at the Barcelona Shakedown,” Newey promises. As rivals unveil their interpretations, the true test awaits, but he urges patience: “Whether that proves to be the right one or not, only time will tell.”
In an era of bold changes, Newey’s message is clear—keep an open mind. Aston Martin’s 2026 challenger embodies risk and innovation, potentially reshaping the grid if its potential unfolds as planned.