Newey poised for comeback in Monaco amid uncertainties with Aston.

      "It will be a challenging grand prix."

      Adrian Newey may return to the Aston Martin garage in Monaco this weekend after a notably subdued beginning to his involvement with the Silverstone-based team. The design legend's recent lack of presence has sparked speculation about not just Aston Martin-Honda's poor start to 2026, but also his long-term position within the organization and even his health.

      Spanish reports now indicate that Newey is expected to be in Monaco, although Aston Martin has yet to officially confirm this. During the launch of the upcoming Barcelona GP, Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa called for patience. "It will be a challenging grand prix; you’ve seen how the season has begun, but I must say that we have significant investment backing us," he stated.

      Standing in front of Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia, De la Rosa likened Newey to the renowned architect Antoni Gaudi. "As I sit here and observe this remarkable work by Gaudi, an architect who, if not the best in the world, is certainly groundbreaking, it reminded me that we have our own Gaudi, and that is Adrian Newey," he shared.

      The former McLaren driver recognized that Aston Martin's ambitious project will require time to yield results. "I believe it will be a complex period, but we have an exceptional project for the future," said De la Rosa. "Teams are composed of people, and we have very talented individuals and outstanding tools. Now we just need to exercise a bit of patience."

      "Gradually, throughout the summer, we’ll begin to reveal our potential." His remarks come as attention increases on Aston Martin’s future with Honda and Newey, especially after former Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost suggested that the team could still thrive under Newey’s leadership, "health permitting."

      De la Rosa also spoke about Fernando Alonso’s future, asserting that discussions of retirement are premature despite the Spaniard’s age and Aston Martin’s current difficulties. "Hopefully, he won’t retire, because there are many races still to come," he expressed.

      De la Rosa then shared a story indicating that even Alonso’s retirement plans are uncertain. "I recall that before 2024 began, he told me, 'I’m going to retire,'" he said. Anticipating Alonso’s farewell season, De la Rosa even planned to attend every race. But just a few races later, Alonso had a change of heart.

      "I think it was in China," De la Rosa reminisced. "Fernando pulled me aside and said, 'I’m going to renew for two more.' I looked at him and said, 'Wow, two? But weren’t you retiring this year?' And he replied, 'No, no, I want to do two more.'" This incident made De la Rosa reconsider making long-term predictions about Alonso’s future.

      "He possesses such vitality, energy, drive, and passion ... it’s truly remarkable," he concluded.