According to F1i, Aston Martin team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa has provided a frank evaluation of the squad's troubled beginning to the 2026 Formula 1 season, acknowledging their current difficulties while maintaining that internal developments show encouraging signs.
After three rounds of competition, the Silverstone-based outfit has secured just a single classified result through drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso's 18th-place finish at Suzuka represents their only points-scoring opportunity, where he completed the race a full lap down from victor Kimi Antonelli.
Speaking to Speedcafe, de la Rosa acknowledged the gap between expectations and reality. "We were not expecting to be where we are right now. We were expecting to be a lot more competitive," the former F1 driver explained. "So therefore it has been difficult to accept."
Power Unit Vibrations Impact Drivers
Beyond disappointing results, Aston Martin continues battling significant Honda engine vibration problems that have created physical challenges for their drivers. The issue's severity became apparent when Alonso experienced loss of sensation during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
De la Rosa maintains the team has made substantial progress addressing these "harmonic ghosts" since February testing in Barcelona. "The vibration issues, we have been mitigating them massively," he stated. "So every time that the drivers jump into the car, we have improved on that."
Technical Progress Despite Poor Results
While race results suggest little improvement, de la Rosa points to internal data showing meaningful development work. The team introduced aerodynamic upgrades in Australia that delivered measurable performance gains, according to the Spanish veteran.
Design chief Adrian Newey continues serving as a stabilizing influence across the organization's 1,200 employees, with de la Rosa emphasizing his ability to maintain focus on problem-solving rather than dwelling on current setbacks.
Recent calendar changes that eliminated early-season races have provided additional factory time, though de la Rosa views this as a mixed blessing. "I am of the opinion that the best way to develop a race car is racing," he noted, explaining that reduced track time has left them "behind schedule" in understanding the new technical regulations.
The team faces a crucial test when competition resumes at Miami in early May, where their claimed technical advances must translate into competitive performance.
Source: F1i