Newey's concerning remarks to alleviate pressure on Aston.

      "The car will improve much sooner than that."

      Adrian Newey’s recent remarks about the driver simulator at Aston Martin might merely be a way to alleviate the pressure he is under. This is the perspective of the team's new Spanish simulator driver, Dani Juncadella, following Newey’s criticism last month, when he referred to some of Aston Martin’s tools as "weak."

      "The driver-in-the-loop simulator, a crucial research tool, requires significant enhancements because it currently lacks correlation," stated Newey, who transitioned from Red Bull for the 2025 season and beyond, in late May.

      Team principal Andy Cowell quickly downplayed Newey’s assertion that it would take two years to address the simulator issues, and Fernando Alonso echoed this sentiment. "I believe all simulators face some correlation challenges with the actual car, but I think it will take less than two years to resolve our issues," Alonso remarked.

      Juncadella concurred, expressing to DAZN, "I'm unsure how long it will take, but two years sounds excessive to me. Clearly, improvements take time since we're discussing an organization with numerous individuals. Newey has arrived and needs to restructure the team in his own vision, under the leadership he's been given, which takes time.

      "I also think stating it will take two years is a way to relieve some of the pressure on him," added the 34-year-old. Juncadella believes that the pressure has intensified recently, considering the significant investments made by team owner Lawrence Stroll for minimal results. "I'm certain it’s been an eye-opener for everyone," he noted, "especially in Lawrence Stroll's context. He’s not someone who tolerates wasting time. He demands solutions now."

      Juncadella also downplayed the importance of the simulator. "It’s not the crucial element required to have a competitive car," he asserted. "I’m confident that even if the simulator takes two years to be sorted, the car will be enhanced well before that. If the simulator were that critical, we would have the drivers in there weekly."

      That being said, Juncadella, who was signed by Aston Martin at the end of last year to serve as the primary simulator driver, recognized that it is a valuable tool currently. "The simulator is significant for next year," he acknowledged. "It’s essential even for testing simple components like the new power units, of which there are still many uncertainties because I haven’t had the chance to test them."

      Aston Martin will utilize factory Honda power units starting in 2026, concluding their present customer arrangement with Mercedes. "There’s a wide range of opinions regarding the power units for next year," Juncadella commented, "and I’m uncertain about what to expect.

      "You can design a car that’s incredibly fast, but if the power unit presents issues next year, as has been the case in previous years with major regulatory changes, it could pose significant challenges."