Aston Martin are battling extreme engine issues and a disastrous start to the 2026 Formula 1 season ahead of engine supplier Honda’s home race in Japan.

The Silverstone-based team have failed to finish either of the opening two Grands Prix in Australia and China.

Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are currently struggling to avoid being the slowest cars in qualifying alongside newcomers Cadillac.

The primary cause of these early-season woes stems from immense vibrations generated by the radically altered 2026 power units.

Physical toll on drivers

The violent shaking effectively brought the car to a halt during pre-season testing and has severely limited track mileage.

The situation reached a critical point during the recent Chinese Grand Prix when Alonso retired after completing just 32 laps.

The two-time world champion was visibly forced to take his hands off the steering wheel on the long straights to alleviate the intense discomfort.

“We found more vibrations than any other sessions in the weekend. Physically I could not continue much longer,” said the Spaniard.

“I lost the feeling in my hands and feet. It was not a nice feeling.”

The intense mechanical feedback previously prompted legendary designer Adrian Newey to warn of potential permanent nerve damage for the drivers.

Leadership structure defended

Off the track, the struggling outfit faces mounting speculation regarding their senior management setup.

Reports recently suggested former Audi boss Jonathan Wheatley could arrive to replace Newey and assume traditional team principal duties.

However, co-owner Lawrence Stroll vehemently denied these rumours while reaffirming his commitment to the current unconventional leadership structure.

“We do things differently here, and while we don’t currently adopt the traditional team principal role that you see elsewhere – it is by design,” Stroll stated.

“As the most successful engineer in the history of the sport, Adrian’s primary focus is on the strategic and technical leadership where he excels.”

The immediate priority for the British constructor remains solving these critical unreliability issues before taking to the challenging Suzuka circuit.

Engine partners Honda are reportedly working tirelessly to find a safe mechanical solution ahead of a highly pressurised home event.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has dismissed early-season speculation linking Max Verstappen with a move to the team, reaffirming his commitment to George Russell.

Rumours had surfaced suggesting the four-time world champion could leave Red Bull following recent expressions of internal discontent.

Pundits quickly speculated that Russell could be sacrificed by the Silver Arrows to make room for the Dutchman.

Early season driver market

The Mercedes boss expressed clear frustration that driver market gossip had already ignited just weeks into the new campaign.

“The astonishing thing is that these silly rumours are already surfacing in March,” Wolff told OE24.
“It’s silly enough that you normally have to discuss these things in July.”

The Austrian executive insisted there is absolutely no valid reason to consider altering his current driving partnership.

“We have two drivers with whom we have long-term, multi-year contracts,” he added.
“I could not be happier with either of them. Both are delivering top performances.”

Pundits question Russell’s future

Despite a strong start to the season, former Formula 1 drivers Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill recently cast doubt on Russell’s job security.

The British racer currently holds a narrow four-point lead over his teenage team-mate Kimi Antonelli in the drivers’ standings.

Both Mercedes men have already secured race victories this year, highlighting the team’s competitive pace.

Speaking on the Stay On Track podcast, Herbert suggested the Red Bull star’s unhappiness could trigger a blockbuster switch.

“I’ve heard little rumours again that with Max not being very happy where he is… is he going to be taken by Mercedes, which means they are going to get rid of George,” Herbert stated.

The Antonelli factor

Hill also weighed in on the internal dynamic at Mercedes, questioning if their 19-year-old Italian prospect has already become the favoured driver.

“Kimi is Toto’s protégé, if you like. He’s put his reputation on the line to get this guy in,” Hill observed.
“So George is always temporary,” the 1996 world champion added.

Wolff remains completely resolute in his strategy and quickly shut down any imminent pursuit of the reigning champion.

“There is absolutely no reason to even consider a line-up change, or other drivers. I say this with the utmost respect for Max,” Wolff concluded.

Ferrari have reported Mercedes to motorsport’s governing body the FIA over an allegedly illegal front-wing design ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The Maranello-based outfit raised concerns after reviewing onboard footage from the recent Chinese Grand Prix.

Technical analysis suggests their championship rivals might be using a sophisticated two-phase closing mechanism to gain an aerodynamic advantage.

Silver Arrows dominate early season

The Brackley squad have enjoyed a flawless start to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

They secured back-to-back one-two finishes in the opening rounds in Australia and China.

This early dominance under the sweeping new technical regulations has inevitably drawn intense scrutiny from the rest of the paddock.

Two-phase wing mechanism questioned

Current rules dictate that front and rear wings must complete their closing motion within a strict 400-millisecond window.

Video evidence indicates the championship leaders may be exploiting a loophole by completing this action in two distinct stages.

The initial movement occurs within the legal timeframe, allowing sensors to confirm closure before a secondary, more gradual phase eases the component into its final position.

Mounting pressure on the FIA

This is not the first time the German manufacturer has faced technical investigations this season.

Rivals previously questioned their engine compression ratio, suspecting a method to exceed the strict 16:1 limit at operating temperatures.

While they were cleared of any wrongdoing in that instance, the regulatory board intends to close the engine loophole during the August summer break.

With no official ruling yet on the aerodynamic system, the reigning race winners remain overwhelming favourites at Suzuka.

Lewis Hamilton believes there is even more performance to unlock after ending a 16-month podium drought to claim his first top-three finish for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion finished third in Shanghai behind the leading Mercedes duo.

That encouraging result followed a solid fourth-place finish at the season-opening race in Melbourne.

It marks the British veteran’s strongest start to a Formula 1 campaign since his thrilling 2021 title battle.

Intense winter reset

The 2025 season was statistically the worst of the renowned driver’s illustrious career.

He endured a turbulent first year with the Scuderia and frequently struggled to match the pace of team-mate Charles Leclerc.

However, a gruelling off-season training regime has yielded immediate dividends for the iconic Italian outfit.

The legendary racer completely unplugged from the sport over the winter break to rebuild his mental focus.

Back to peak form

The rejuvenated star now approaches this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix with significant momentum.

He is confident of helping his team close the gap to early constructors’ championship leaders Mercedes.

I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically.

Despite the breakthrough result in China, the record-breaking race winner remains hungry for further technical improvements.

I think I can still eke out more performance from this car.

He acknowledged that mastering the technical complexities of his new machinery remains an ongoing process.

I’m still learning about it as I go, particularly with energy deployment, but I do think there’s more to come.

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and his Mercedes-AMG teammates have been disqualified from Saturday’s Nurburgring Nordschleife race victory after exceeding their tyre allocation.

The Dutchman had partnered with Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon to secure a dominant victory in the second round of the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie.

Driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3, the trio crossed the finish line more than a minute ahead of the chasing pack.

However, post-race inspections revealed the team had used seven sets of tyres across qualifying and the race, breaching the mandated six-set limit.

Rowe Racing inherit victory following rules breach

Following the retrospective disqualification, the race win was subsequently awarded to the Rowe Racing duo of Don Harper and Jordan Pepper.

Verstappen Racing released a measured response on social media acknowledging the setback while focusing on future events.

“Tough outcome, but we keep moving,” the statement read.
“A lot to take from the weekend and plenty to look forward to.”

Mercedes acknowledge behind-the-scenes error

The operational error was managed by Winward Racing, who were fielding this specific performance car line-up for the first time in the endurance series.

Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG customer racing, admitted the logistical mistake severely dampened an otherwise extraordinary day on the track.

“The disappointment was all the greater when we realised that we had made a mistake behind the scenes that morning and the race organisers were forced to disqualify the winning car,” Wendl explained.
“It shows once again that you can only win on the Nordschleife if everything comes together.”

Potential early return to the Green Hell

The Red Bull driver is expected to return to the famously unforgiving German circuit for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in May.

However, the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix owing to conflict in the Middle East has created an unexpected gap in the reigning world champion’s primary racing schedule.

This calendar opening has raised the possibility of the prolific racer competing in the next round of the endurance series next month.

“We’re looking into it,” he responded when questioned about a swift comeback.
“It depends if it is feasible, but I’m always happy to race here.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned of potential “political knives” as his team looks to extend their perfect start to the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Silver Arrows have dominated the opening rounds of the new regulatory era.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have secured a victory apiece to deliver consecutive one-two finishes in Australia and China.

These early results have established a commanding lead for the Brackley-based squad in the Constructors’ Championship.

However, Wolff anticipates off-track challenges as rival teams look to close the performance gap.

“Let’s see what kind of political knives are going to come out in the next few weeks and months,” Wolff said.
“But at the moment it’s a car that is capable of winning.”

Leclerc concedes Mercedes are ‘big favourites’

The Monegasque racer admitted the Italian outfit faces a significant challenge to catch their rivals.

“Mercedes are very strong in general,” Leclerc noted.
“I said it multiple times that this year will all be about development, but the Mercedes is extremely strong.”
“They are, for sure, the big favourites. If we manage to turn that situation around, it will be very impressive.”

Development race and engine regulations

Rival manufacturers could receive a lifeline through Formula 1’s new Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system.

Teams possessing an internal combustion engine deemed to be at least two per cent behind the class leader will be granted extra development time.

The first evaluation point is scheduled to follow the Monaco Grand Prix in June.

The paddock is also fiercely debating the impact of the 2026 power units, which feature an equal split between electric and combustion power.

This heavier reliance on electrical deployment has led to a divisive, yoyo-style pattern of overtaking on track.

Protecting F1’s newest race winner

Alongside managing paddock politics, Wolff remains focused on nurturing his 19-year-old sensation.

Antonelli made history in China by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in the sport’s history before converting it into a maiden victory.

Despite this remarkable triumph in only his second top-flight campaign, the Austrian team boss insists the teenager still requires protection from the intense media spotlight.

Tyler Reddick overcame extreme cockpit temperatures and a malfunctioning battery to win the NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday for his fourth victory of the season.

The 23XI Racing driver started from pole position but immediately faced electrical problems on the opening lap.

An alternator failure caused a dangerous voltage drop, forcing him to disable his cooling fans and water-circulation suit in sweltering South Carolina heat.

Battling extreme heat and ‘The Lady in Black’

Despite sweating heavily in the punishing conditions, the championship contender managed the crisis masterfully over 293 laps.

“The battery wasn’t charging at all,” Reddick said. “All day long just not running fans and sweating my tail off inside the race car.”

The Californian found himself trailing Brad Keselowski by seven seconds after the final round of pit stops.

However, making the most of fresher tyres, he hunted down his rival to make the decisive, race-winning pass on lap 266.

Jordan praises the resilience of his driver

He ultimately crossed the finish line with a commanding 5.8-second advantage over the field.

Ryan Blaney took third place, with Carson Hocevar and Austin Cindric rounding out the top five at the notoriously difficult 1.366-mile oval.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan, who co-owns the winning team alongside Denny Hamlin, praised his driver’s remarkable mental fortitude.

“I think the key to him winning was just keeping his head,” Jordan stated. “I just wanted everything to be good, because once he gets back out there, then I feel like his competitive juices are going to carry him all the way to the end.”

Keselowski concedes defeat to ‘rocket’ car

Keselowski led a race-high 142 laps but admitted he was powerless to hold off the charging Toyota Camry in the closing stages.

“We didn’t have the best car today, not compared to Tyler,” Keselowski conceded. “Tyler drove a hell of a race, and he’s driving a rocket.”

The triumph marks a long-awaited breakthrough at Darlington for the former dirt racer, who had previously finished as runner-up at the circuit on three separate occasions.

Italy’s Marco Bezzecchi has taken the lead in the championship standings after winning a heat-shortened Brazil MotoGP ahead of Aprilia team-mate Jorge Martin.

The 27-year-old followed up his season-opening victory in Thailand to secure another top-of-the-podium finish at the Autodromo Internacional Ayrton Senna in Goiania.

Defending champion Marc Marquez could only manage fourth place behind Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio, who had started the race on pole position.

The highly anticipated event marked the premier motorcycle racing class’s first return to the South American nation in more than two decades.

Extreme temperatures force late adjustments

Organisers were forced to slash the race distance from 31 to 23 laps shortly before the start due to severe weather conditions.

Unprecedented track heat caused significant tyre degradation during the earlier sessions, prompting immediate safety concerns for the competitors.

The eventual race winner admitted his garage had to dig incredibly deep after struggling during a frustrating, rain-hit practice on Friday.

“It was a tough weekend, it was super tough on Friday, we started in a bad way and it was difficult to keep the motivation super high.”

“But the guys did a wonderful job and I pushed myself over the limit to try to compensate everything I could and at the end we found the way to make the bike in a fantastic way.”

Championship standings shake-up

The Italian rider adjusted his approach during the morning warm-ups before deciding he was ready to fight for the win.

“I adjusted some details on my riding and from this morning I felt better, so I said, ‘OK, maybe I can try to fight.’ It was an amazing race, I’m super happy.”

This crucial victory elevates the Aprilia star to the summit of the championship table with 56 points after just two rounds.

Previous leader Pedro Acosta has dropped down the rankings after the KTM rider crossed the finish line in a disappointing seventh place.

The premier class paddock will now travel to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, which takes place between 27 and 29 March.