Newey says Honda disappointed with 2026 progress

Adrian Newey has said Honda has been disappointed with how much progress it has made this season, as the works partners for Aston Martin struggle in their first year together. The power unit has suffered from vibrations, battery failures and reliability problems, which disrupted pre-season work and the opening races.

Aston Martin sits tenth in the constructors' standings with seven points after 20 rounds, ahead only of Cadillac. All of those points have come from Fernando Alonso, while team-mate Lance Stroll is yet to score. Honda has introduced engine and turbo upgrades under the FIA's development programme, but these have not yet closed the gap to rivals.

Newey believes the disappointment will strengthen the resolve of both companies, adding that the future is the key focus. He said the turnaround will take time, but that Honda has many capable people and processes now in place.