Formula 1 News: Newey’s Aston Martin ‘lemon’ labeled ‘failed design’

(GMM) Aston Martin’s radical 2026 car concept has been sharply criticized, with one expert in Japan calling a key design element an “unthinkable mistake”. Analysis published by the magazine version of as-web.jp questions the team’s aggressive front suspension and steering layout, developed amid the arrival of Adrian Newey (pictured) .

“When we started analyzing the link layout, we found ourselves asking, ‘How does this even work?'” the media report said.

Related Article: Formula 1 News: Adrian Newey has a plan to fix his Aston Martin ‘lemon’

The verdict is notable amid suggestions Aston Martin’s struggles are most directly linked to its Honda power unit, with the focus of the latest analysis pointing at the chassis concept.

The criticism centers on the positioning of the steering rack and tie rods.

“The operating efficiency is astonishingly poor – mechanically speaking, it is absurd,” the analysis continued, adding: “I cannot imagine it functioning accurately.”

It also pointed to onboard footage.

“There were situations where the driver’s hands were making fine movements, but those movements were not appearing at the wheels.”

Veteran commentator Takenori Sumikaku was even more direct.

“As a suspension designer, this is an ‘unthinkable mistake’. It is a failed design,” he said.

“When you consider the operation of the steering, it can be stated outright that this is a defect from a mechanical standpoint.”

Editor’s Note: This is more evidence that it was Rob Marshall, and not Adrian Newey, who made the Red Bull F1 car so good all those years. Marshall is the best designer in F1 today and before that, it was Aldo Costa who made the Mercedes unbeatable for all of Lewis Hamilton’s wins.

Aldo Costa F1 World Championships 

Adrian Newey F1 World Championships