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Fernando Alonso confirms significant Aston Martin detail after F1 test delay
racingnews365.com·

Fernando Alonso confirms significant Aston Martin detail after F1 test delay

Fernando Alonso has confirmed that Aston Martin completed its programme in Barcelona, despite missing the opening three and a half days of the test. The Silverstone-based outfit was not present in the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya paddock at the start of the test and only arrived ready to hit the track on Thursday. Alonso completed 61 laps compared to Lance Stroll’s four, marking the lowest total of any team present at the test. However, unlike Williams, Aston Martin did at least gather some data, with its planned programme for the final day and a half being completed. Alonso’s sole running in the AMR26 came on the final day of the test, marking a “special moment” for the two-time world champion as it represented another new regulatory cycle he has entered. Despite the significance of driving the new car, Alonso is aware that much work is required before not only the next test, but also the first race in Australia. "It’s always a special moment driving a new car for the first time, especially at the start of a new regulation cycle," said Alonso.  "Over the years I’ve experienced many changes in Formula One, and you quickly get a sense of the direction the car is taking.  "We completed a solid programme with strong mileage, which is the main priority at this stage. It’s still very early days and we have a lot of work still to do before we head to Melbourne in March."

Aston Martin 'emotional' over F1 2026 debut after Barcelona delay
racingnews365.com·

Aston Martin 'emotional' over F1 2026 debut after Barcelona delay

Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack has labelled the team's on-track debut as “emotional”. The Silverstone-based squad was delayed in getting its car to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the pre-season shakedown event. In the closing stages of Thursday's test, the car emerged from the garage with Lance Stroll behind the wheel. There is much anticipation surrounding Aston Martin's car this year as it is the team's first challenger built by Adrian Newey - regarded as one of the sport's greatest designers. The car's features turned heads when it rolled out of the garage , as Krack highlighted the importance of the moment for the team. “Each time when you have a new car, it's always emotional,” he said. “It's a very, very, very exciting moment. A lot of hard work went into it over the last days. “There's still a lot of work to come, but I think we can take a breath and be happy that we rolled out the car.  “It was really emotional and a nice moment for the team and a tribute to the hard work that everybody put in.  The AMR26 managed just four laps before it stuttered to a halt on the track, equipped with the new Honda power unit. Aston Martin now has one final day of running to get through in Barcelona before it heads to Bahrain for the second test. “F1 is relentless,” Krack added.  “You always have to look forward, and there will be much more hard work to come, but we're looking forward to that.”

Isack Hadjar sets early Barcelona pace as Aston Martin confirm testing delay
racingnews365.com·

Isack Hadjar sets early Barcelona pace as Aston Martin confirm testing delay

Isack Hadjar unofficially topped the afternoon session on the opening day of the official shakedown test in Barcelona, according to local reports. With live timing cut following the morning session and security high, reports of track action have been minimal. READ MORE: 2026 F1 Barcelona Pre-Season Test - Day 1 unofficial afternoon results Aston Martin reveal Barcelona F1 test plan after delay fears Aston Martin has confirmed that it will not complete three days of running at this week’s official shakedown test in Barcelona. RacingNews365 discovered last week that the Silverstone-based team was facing potential delays with its AMR26, which will not be seen on track until the latter stages of the test. READ MORE: Aston Martin reveal Barcelona F1 test plan after delay fears Mercedes rivals handed stark warning after Kimi Antonelli issues high praise Kimi Antonelli has handed Mercedes' rivals an early warning after praising the initial performance of the Silver Arrows' power unit. The 19-year-old was the first driver to exit the pit lane at the start of the opening day of the official shakedown test in Barcelona, before handing the W17 over to George Russell. READ MORE: Mercedes rivals handed stark warning after Kimi Antonelli issues high praise Esteban Ocon left in awe of 'unbelievable' Haas: 'People have climbed mountains' Esteban Ocon was left in awe of the "unbelievable effort" Haas has made to get into a decent position for the Barcelona test, sharing that the team has "climbed mountains." Haas opted to run on the opening day of the five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Ocon getting his chance behind the wheel of the VF-26. READ MORE: Esteban Ocon left in awe of 'unbelievable' Haas: 'People have climbed mountains' Red Bull surprise with aggressive design for Max Verstappen Ahead of its on-track debut on Monday in Barcelona, Red Bull shared the first real images of its 2026 F1 challenger, the RB22. The car was driven on the track by Isack Hadjar, with Max Verstappen due to jump behind the wheel later in the week. READ MORE: Red Bull surprise with aggressive design for Max Verstappen Investigation launched in to FIA Foundation charity An investigation has been launched into the FIA Foundation, the charitable arm responsible for funding road safety research and motorsport safety initiatives. The Charity Commission has opened the inquiry as it responds to concerns over governance and potential conflicts of interest between the Foundation and its parent organisation, the FIA, which governs F1 and many global motorsport categories. READ MORE: Investigation launched in to FIA Foundation charity

Aston Martin reveal Barcelona F1 test plan after delay fears
racingnews365.com·

Aston Martin reveal Barcelona F1 test plan after delay fears

Aston Martin has confirmed that it will not complete three days of running at this week’s official shakedown test in Barcelona. RacingNews365 discovered last week that the Silverstone-based team was facing potential delays with its AMR26, which will not be seen on track until the latter stages of the test. Aston Martin revealed in a statement that it will be at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week but will not run until Thursday at the earliest, with the intention of also running on Friday. This means that only two days of running at best will be conducted by the British outfit, despite three being allowed for each team. An Aston Martin statement read: "The AMR26 will be in Barcelona later this week for its shakedown. Our intention is to run Thursday and Friday." https://x.com/AstonMartinF1/status/2015813301482008616?s=20 An update on Barcelona Shakedown. pic.twitter.com/dm9IWh2d32 — Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 26, 2026

The new F1 dictionary for 2026
racingnews365.com·

The new F1 dictionary for 2026

With the start of the 2026 season, drivers, teams and fans will have to deal with a completely new vocabulary of buttons, systems and regulations. From "Overtake" to active aerodynamics, from Audi's entry to the compression ratio controversy, the sport is evolving into a new era.  Here are the key terms for the coming years. Overtake The well-known DRS system will be replaced by Overtake Mode in 2026. Unlike the opening rear wing, which offered an aerodynamic advantage, Overtake Mode provides additional electrical power.  The system can be activated when a driver is within one second of the car ahead, similar to how DRS was allowed to be activated. There is one detection point per circuit. With Overtake Mode, the attacking driver can charge an additional 0.5 megajoules and use it the next lap to attempt an overtake.  This means that the attacking driver has both more total energy available and access to full power at higher speeds than the car in front of him. A significant advantage to enable overtaking manoeuvres. Boost In addition to Overtake Mode, drivers will also have a separate Boost Mode at their disposal, a system that operates completely independently of proximity to rivals.  Boost is a button on the steering wheel that delivers the maximum combined power from both the combustion engine and the battery, as long as electrical power is available.  As opposed to Overtake Mode, drivers can use this system anywhere on the track, both for attack and defence. The strategic element is in the timing.  Drivers can decide to deploy the boost all at once for powerful acceleration, or spread the extra energy over several moments in the lap, depending on when they need the extra performance most. This flexibility makes the boost button one of the most versatile tactical tools in the new F1 arsenal. Recharge Drivers can then recharge the battery with Recharge Mode. When the mode is enabled, the battery recharges by the energy released under braking.  This creates an intense task in the cockpit. Drivers must constantly switch between power input, aerodynamic modes and energy from the battery. It becomes a constant dialogue between driver and team via the onboard radio. In early simulations, the battery would be depleted so early on a straight that a driver would have to downshift, but that is not expected to happen. However, speed can be reduced on straights. Straight and Corner Mode In addition to changes to the engine, 2026 also marks the end of the ground-effect era that began in 2022.  The real revolution, however, is in active aerodynamics. Both the front and rear wings get adjustable flaps that can operate in two different positions, available to all drivers on designated straights. In Straight Mode, the front and rear wings are flatter to reduce drag in predetermined activation zones.  This lowers downforce and improves top speed. In Corner Mode, the wings remain in their standard closed position to maintain the higher downforce needed for cornering grip. For wet conditions, there is a partial aero option where the front wing can be in Straight Mode while the rear wing remains in Corner Mode for the needed downforce. The text continues below the image. Compression Ratio While the visible changes draw attention, behind the scenes a technical controversy rages over engine compression ratios.  The 2026 regulations limit the geometric compression ratio to 16:1 from 18:1 in 2025. This reduction was implemented to help new engine manufacturers and align with the transition to sustainable fuels. The critical point: compression ratio is measured statically, not while racing. This measurement approach has generated considerable controversy.  Namely, Mercedes could still reach 18:1 if used without violating regulations. That could yield three to four tenths on a circuit like Australia. So this term will come up often, as other engine suppliers are not happy with it. Ferrari, Audi and Honda are said to have protested to the FIA. So this topic will no doubt be continued... Audi & Cadillac About Audi, that brand will enter F1 as a factory team in 2026 after taking over from Sauber. The team will operate from Sauber's existing headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland, while Audi has set up a powertrain production site in Neuberg, Germany.  Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto form the driver duo, with Jonathan Wheatley as team principal. Cadillac forms the other, all-new eleventh team. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, received final approval in March 2025 and becomes the first new team since Haas in 2016. The team is led by Graeme Lowdon as team boss and will initially use Ferrari engines while General Motors builds an engine for 2029.  Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez should help Cadillac advance with their experience. Red Bull Powertrains Red Bull Racing is also taking a huge step forward with Red Bull Powertrains, its own power unit to be used from 2026.  Red Bull Powertrains is developing a V6 turbo hybrid powertrain in collaboration with Ford. This is a huge project, with about 700 people contributing to it in Milton Keynes. The question is how competitive Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls will be, though. They have never driven its own engines before.  Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar should help the team in its biggest challenge to date in the coming years. Arvid Lindblad In the midst of all this technical complexity, there is one driver who is experiencing it all for the first time: Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie on the 2026 grid. The 18-year-old British driver drives for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Lindblad earned his seat after just one season in Formula 2, where he finished sixth in the championship with three race wins.  His path to F1 was accelerated by two appearances for Red Bull in 2025 at Silverstone and in Mexico City, where he impressed the team management enough to secure his Racing Bulls seat. Early competitiveness will be challenging, especially since the 2026 season features completely new technical regulations and engines that even experienced drivers will have to get used to. Spanish Grand Prix And as if all these technical changes were not enough, the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix will be held at the Madring for the first time.  This is a street circuit near Madrid, near the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. The circuit covers 5.47 kilometres with 22 corners, including a remarkably long sloping corner, the longest sloping corner on the F1 calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix will take place on Sept. 13 and is the sixteenth round of the season. The European season will officially conclude at the Madring.