Capelli stated that Newey cannot be dismissed, even if Aston desires it.

      "It appeared to be the most sought-after target for 2027."

      Aston Martin's escalating crisis has left the team unable to part ways with Adrian Newey, even if they desired to, according to former F1 driver and paddock analyst Ivan Capelli. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Capelli mentioned that Newey's status as a shareholder has rendered him untouchable at a time when the team is severely struggling with vibration issues from its Honda power unit, which threaten to hinder both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from finishing the race in Melbourne.

      "It appeared to be the most sought-after target for 2027, but now it’s uncertain," Capelli remarked about Aston Martin. He noted that "the technical difficulties arising from the Honda power unit are obscuring other problems. Newey, a genuine genius, has always had superiors who provided him with the freedom and clear timelines—Patrick Head at Williams, Ron Dennis at McLaren, and Christian Horner at Red Bull.

      "Now he assumes the roles of team principal and designer, and unsurprisingly, the car was delivered late due to attempts to modify certain details right up until the last moment. Additionally, he is confronted with a range of organizational challenges that he hadn’t anticipated before.

      "And he can’t even be dismissed because he is a shareholder."

      Regarding the broader 2026 regulations, Capelli indicated that the situation remains dynamic. "There has been talk about the maximum kilowatts allowed for charging. The cap is set at 350—Aston Martin claims it can’t even achieve that. Others are also struggling to maximize the full electric component.

      "On the track, they were testing between 200-250 kW—everything is still in flux."

      He challenged F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s assertion that initial problems would resolve themselves after a few races, stating, "I believe it will remain like this."

      "Despite the scale of innovation, the top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull—will be closely matched. However, there will be a considerable gap with the others, who will likely be about a second slower."

      On Ferrari's strong start, Capelli attributed credit to Charles Leclerc’s efforts in development work. "The car has shown to be significantly better on the track compared to the 2025 model during testing. Leclerc has specifically worked on enhancing performance—modifications to the rear end, the 'Macarena' rear wing. In summary, an assertive approach."

      He expressed skepticism that Lewis Hamilton would immediately match his teammate's pace. "I sense that Leclerc still has a few tenths of improvement available. Lewis was not particularly fluid through the corners—he wasn’t driving instinctively.

      "In my view, Charles will likely be ahead, at least for now."

      On Kimi Antonelli, fellow Italian Capelli was optimistic. "He's very driven and displays greater maturity in his attitude. He’s evaluated Russell and understands his strengths and weaknesses. His mindset will be the key difference."

      In the midfield, Capelli offered commendations for several contenders. "The Audi, despite its somewhat bulky design, seems well-balanced in corners. The Alpine could be the unexpected standout, and the Haas is intriguing."