Newey and the team principal are at odds regarding the assertion of 'weak tools.'

      "We won’t need two years"

      The first noticeable disagreement between Adrian Newey and Aston Martin's upper management has surfaced. Since he joined the team in March to focus on the completely new car project for 2026, Newey made his inaugural appearance at a grand prix last weekend in Monaco wearing his new green attire. He stated that even with team owner Lawrence Stroll's considerable investment in infrastructure, "some of our tools are weak." Newey pointed out the simulator specifically, saying, "It requires considerable work since there's currently no correlation, and it’s a crucial development tool. Not having that is a limitation, but we need to continue working in the meantime. It’s likely a two-year project."

      When questioned about his somewhat concerning remarks, which might jeopardize a championship attempt for at least that upcoming two-year period, team chief Andy Cowell disagreed with Newey's evaluation and timeline. "We won’t need two years," he asserted. "It just takes time to refine these aspects - but it won't take years; it’s more a matter of months. We were just discussing in the briefing about 'what did the driver say in the simulator' and 'what did the track say,’ and there’s a discrepancy. 'What do we do now?' We’re still utilizing the driver in the simulator, but we are being a bit more cautious with implementing setup changes," Cowell added. "But we won't need two years, and this isn't just a matter of Adrian and I having a conversation. Over time, confidence builds, allowing it to be used as a development tool, and then it's effective. That’s the approach we’re taking, which I don’t believe is unusual for any team adapting a new tool."

      Aston Martin is projected to make significant advancements with the transition to the new, radical engine and chassis regulations next year – especially with Alonso, Newey, and the introduction of works Honda engines. "We’re all focused on the 2026 car," Alonso stated during a pre-Spanish GP event on Tuesday, "but somewhat without any points of reference from other cars - just from our observations. So, we must trust our personnel, facilities, engineers, and Adrian Newey, who might be our greatest asset. We don’t have guarantees, but we do have the best creating the car. That should be advantageous, regardless."

      Additionally, Aston Martin will be taking greater overall control of its F1 car design, shifting from customer Mercedes power to works Honda engines. "For the first time in the team's history, we’re also going to manufacture the gearbox," Alonso noted. "This team has always acquired its gearbox and engine from Mercedes, but now the engine will come from Honda, and the gearbox will be produced in-house for the first time. These are challenges that we must not underestimate, and we need to put in substantial effort to address them."