Newey might take a step back from his role as Aston boss due to the crisis with Honda.

      Adrian Newey might soon give up his new position as team principal of Aston Martin due to the team's dreadful start to the 2026 season. This perspective comes from prominent Spanish Formula 1 journalist Antonio Lobato, who notes that tensions are escalating at the Silverstone-based team following a disastrous beginning to the new Honda-powered era. "There’s a lot of tension at Aston Martin right now, a lot of disappointment and nerves," Lobato stated on the Soy Motor podcast. He believes the issues extend beyond the reliability problems that have affected Newey’s debut season with Aston Martin. "There is a more significant underlying issue," he added, referring to a power shortfall from the Honda engine of "well over 50 horsepower."

      The severity of the problem was underscored in Shanghai, where Alonso retired after experiencing severe vibrations that made it difficult to control the steering wheel. "He completed 33 laps, something we hadn’t done consecutively before," noted chief trackside officer Mike Krack. "Fernando mentioned that if you’re fighting for the win, it’s manageable to drive like that, but given our situation, it was an easy decision."

      Another notable moment from the race occurred when Sergio Perez overtook Alonso’s Aston Martin in the Cadillac-powered car on the straight, leading Alonso to wave at his friend from his cockpit. "Cadillac was half a second quicker than Aston Martin on the straights every lap," Lobato remarked.

      This crisis has also raised concerns about Aston Martin’s unconventional new management structure, with Newey merging his typical design duties with the unfamiliar role of team principal. "I would say there’s currently a lack of leadership," Lobato commented. "In fact, I believe there will soon be a new team principal." According to the seasoned commentator, Aston Martin is already searching for alternatives. "They’re looking for someone," he said. "They’ve had three in the past three years, and the last, Adrian Newey, isn’t fulfilling that role. He’s talented in his area."

      Rumors are circulating that Red Bull boss Christian Horner could re-emerge as a candidate for the position, especially as Mercedes seems more inclined to purchase the available 24 percent stake at Alpine. However, Krack insists that Aston Martin is making progress behind the scenes despite the difficult start to the year. "People might laugh if I say we’ve made progress," he acknowledged. "But we’ve learned a lot simply by competing." He clarified that the vibration issues are not the cause of the team's significant performance deficit. "The vibrations mainly impact our reliability," Krack explained. "It’s not something that costs us seconds."

      Instead, Aston Martin’s primary hope for narrowing the performance gap lies in potential power unit development once the FIA permits changes under the new ADUO engine regulations. "If we can implement improvements sooner, that will certainly help," he noted. Krack also defended his drivers after Lance Stroll's terse one-word responses in China raised concerns. "The drivers are investing a lot of energy into this," he stated. "They are professional athletes but also human beings. The current situation is challenging."