Formula 1 Bahrain Pre-Season 1
Fernando Alonso admits Aston Martin must "walk before we run" after Bahrain test issues
Alonso says Adrian Newey is “different” because he still leans on driver feedback
Alex Harrington
Published: Feb 16, 2026, 11:45 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Kym Illman (Getty Images)
Coming off what seemed to be a difficult few days of testing for Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso has outlined the sheer scale of the Silverstone team's to-do list as it readies itself for the beginning of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With the team adapting to its new team principal Adrian Newey and new power unit supplier Honda, the beginning of the season focuses on the integration of these new cogs of the machine. While Bahrain testing has hinted that the current package isn't yet behaving how the outfit would like it to, two-time champion Alonso is still optimistic for his first season under the gaze of Newey.
"Absolutely," the Spaniard said when asked by Sky Sports F1 if he now understands what makes him the competitor he is. "He’s different. He’s an incredible designer and he has a very different way of working within a team.
"In an era of computers and simulations, Adrian still talks to the driver and uses feedback with the problems you’re having. He can take in the full picture of the problem and probably has the solution already in mind. That's fascinating in a way, to speak with him and to learn from him, and I’m looking forward to this year, for sure."
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Across the three days in Bahrain, Aston Martin logged the lowest mileage of any team on track due to issues with the powertrain. Alonso accounted for 98 of these laps while his team-mate, Lance Stroll, completed 108. Team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa confirmed the team was "clearly behind".
But such things don't worry the experienced ace, who is seemingly eager to focus on the silver lining.
"This feels like an important moment in Aston Martin’s project," he continued. "Our facilities are finally completed. We have our own wind tunnel for designing the car now, instead of using a third-party tunnel. We have our own gearbox for the first time — that’s a big challenge — but it gives us the freedom to design key components of the car for the first time. And we have Honda as a partner.
“All the pieces are coming together. The biggest challenge is integrating everything and getting the timing right," he added, admitting that this season may be a slow starter. "Coming from seventh in the constructors’ championship last year, we need to walk before we run and take things one step at a time.
“We’re competitors — we want to win and fight for big things — but that requires time. We want to make that timeline as short as possible.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Bahrain F1 pre-season testing week 2: Where to watch live, full schedule, what to know
Next article How McLaren tweaked its steering wheel to maximise F1’s 2026 hybrid
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Harrington
Fans can't get enough of Max Verstappen's floral race boots after Singapore win
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Fans can't get enough of Max Verstappen's floral race boots after Singapore win
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
More from
Fernando Alonso
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
Fernando Alonso set for Dakar Rally comeback with Aston Martin
Dakar
Dakar
Fernando Alonso set for Dakar Rally comeback with Aston Martin
More from
Aston Martin Racing
“Even faster than Ferrari” – Fernando Alonso grabs Aston Martin’s best result of F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
“Even faster than Ferrari” – Fernando Alonso grabs Aston Martin’s best result of F1 2026
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
What the drivers are expecting from F1's return to Sepang
Latest news
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
20 min
Into the unknown: What to expect from WEC's Barcelona debut
Josh Pierson earns IndyCar license approval following IMS road course evaluation test
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 21 min
Josh Pierson earns IndyCar license approval following IMS road course evaluation test
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 46 min
Christian Horner opens up on Red Bull F1 exit: “Perhaps it was perceived I had too much influence over the team”
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
2 h
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe