Tost expresses health worries for Newey during Aston-Honda difficulties.

      Former Formula 1 team principal Franz Tost has hinted that Adrian Newey's health might play a role as Aston Martin struggles with a difficult start to its new Honda partnership. During the 15 Love - Der Business podcast, the ex-Toro Rosso head highlighted several reasons for Aston Martin’s disappointing performance in the 2026 season thus far.

      "Firstly, it's unfortunate that Honda has messed up this new engine. They’ve created something that doesn’t function as they may have anticipated," he stated. However, drawing from his own experiences, Tost expressed confidence in the Japanese manufacturer’s ability to bounce back. "I know the Japanese well and I’m certain they will address the issue by next year at the latest," he remarked.

      Tost also mentioned Newey's late addition to the team. "Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin very late," he pointed out. "He only started last April, which is an exceedingly brief timeframe for such a significant project."

      "There’s still a lot to fix," he added. These comments are particularly significant given the recent speculation surrounding Newey’s sudden low visibility within the team and rumors regarding potential health issues. "I believe, health permitting, he’ll be able to design a good car for 2027," Tost commented. "I’m quite confident about that."

      In addition, Tost named Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli as the standout emerging talent in Formula 1. "Max Verstappen is undoubtedly the best driver in Formula 1 at the moment—there’s no debate," he noted. "But I have to say, Kimi Antonelli is doing an exceptional job—really impressive."

      Tost acknowledged his surprise at the 19-year-old Italian's performance against teammate George Russell. "I’m surprised that Antonelli has had such clear control over Russell at this time," he remarked. "He’s faster—I didn't expect it to that degree."

      The 70-year-old Austrian, who still works as a part-time consultant for Red Bull, added: "Antonelli has shown remarkable performance in these initial races, considering his level of experience. The poise he drives with, the awareness he demonstrates—he is already among the emerging superstars."

      Tost further opined that Antonelli is receiving excellent mentorship from Mercedes chief and fellow Austrian Toto Wolff. "The key is to remain humble," he advised. "With Toto, he has a fantastic team principal and leader who will guide him appropriately."