(Motorsport-Total.com) – The start of the 2026 Formula 1 era did not go as hoped for Aston Martin. During the test drives in Bahrain, the AMR26 was not only slow but also unreliable. The focus is on engine supplier Honda, but Norbert Haug urges restraint.
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When asked by Sky whether it hasn’t been working as planned so far, the former Mercedes motorsport boss replies: “Yes, that is absolutely correct. But I wouldn’t underestimate them.”
Especially with a view to Honda, Haug recognizes parallels to the past: “History is repeating itself there too. They have already produced a dud at Honda several times – earlier in Formula 1 history, as is known. And then they don’t give up and upgrade.”
Unusual solutions – but too few kilometers
Currently, Haug certainly sees a handicap, but he doesn’t want to make a premature judgment about the car itself. “You can’t say anything about the car at all. It has its own unique solutions. The fact that the rear suspension is articulated at the wing point – I’ve never seen it in that form before.”
The main problem is something else: “The car simply lacks kilometers. And in that respect, you can’t say how good the Aston Martin will be.”
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Experience with Newey – and radical concepts
Haug knows the technical head behind the project very well: Adrian Newey. “I worked with Adrian Newey for a long time. And we also once produced a car that unfortunately couldn’t be used at all. And then you have to use the previous year’s car. But he goes to the limits. I wouldn’t write them off yet.”
Haug believes that the Japanese manufacturer Honda in particular is capable of a quick reaction: “I believe specifically with Honda, they can move mountains – even overnight.”
His conclusion is correspondingly nuanced: “In that respect, I don’t believe that they are already far behind. Certainly not a favorite in Melbourne. But they will move up significantly, I would estimate.”
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