Aston Martin face internal row over poor start to 2026 Formula 1 season
Aston Martin’s deeply disappointing start to the 2026 Formula 1 season has reportedly sparked a massive behind-the-scenes row between owner Lawrence Stroll and chief aerodynamicist Adrian Newey prior to the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Silverstone-based outfit entered the current campaign with incredibly high expectations following the high-profile capture of the legendary car designer from Red Bull Racing.
However, the anticipated push to the front of the grid has rapidly descended into a nightmare scenario for the ambitious constructor.
The new AMR26 challenger remains overweight and plagued by extreme vibrations, severely limiting the performance of drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Stroll feeling the pressure
Former driver Ralf Schumacher has now revealed the extent of the internal friction gripping the struggling racing stable.
Speaking on a podcast following the Monte Carlo race, the German pundit claimed that Newey was forced to attend the street circuit despite suffering from a recent illness.
The team’s billionaire owner reportedly mandated the 67-year-old’s presence as frustrations rapidly boiled over regarding their lack of competitive pace.
“There’s a massive row going on behind the scenes; Lawrence Stroll is, of course, anything but happy. It’s turned into something of a walk of shame for him by now.”
Ralf Schumacher
A glimmer of hope amid the gloom
The troubled engineering project was initially blamed on the team’s new Honda power unit, but focus has recently shifted towards fundamental flaws in the chassis design.
Despite the ongoing mechanical issues and heavy grid penalties, the two-time world champion Alonso miraculously secured the team’s first point of the season with a 10th-place finish in the principality.
That solitary point, however, appears entirely insufficient to ease the mounting pressure on the Canadian businessman’s substantial financial investment.
With six Constructors’ Championships on his illustrious CV, the celebrated British aerodynamicist now faces an immense challenge to rescue the failing campaign.
