Guenther Steiner has offered a direct assessment of Aston Martin’s performance during the 2026 Formula 1 season, highlighting concerns over team owner Lawrence Stroll’s approach. Steiner indicated that Stroll’s impatience could be a factor in the team’s current difficulties with its Honda power unit.
Aston Martin has endured a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, currently occupying tenth position in the constructors’ championship with a single point. The Silverstone-based outfit finds itself ahead only of newcomer Cadillac in the standings.
A primary issue for the team has been the performance of the Honda power unit, which has reportedly not met expectations for both reliability and outright pace. Industry reports suggest the Honda unit is approximately 70 horsepower behind Mercedes, contributing to an estimated 1.2-second deficit per lap.
Early in the season, significant vibration issues emerged from the power unit, causing damage to Honda’s battery during pre-season testing. These vibrations were severe enough to cause structural damage to the car and posed a physical challenge for the drivers.
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin’s team principal and design chief, stated in March 2026 that Fernando Alonso felt unable to complete more than 25 consecutive laps due to the risk of permanent nerve damage to his hands. Alonso subsequently retired from the Chinese Grand Prix after experiencing severe vibrations.
While Honda expressed confidence in May 2026 that battery reliability issues had been resolved, recent onboard footage from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September 2026 showed Alonso still contending with visible vibrations in the cockpit. Aston Martin recorded a second double retirement in three races at the Azerbaijan event.
Steiner has been vocal in his criticism of Aston Martin’s form, describing their current performance as ‘not F1 standards anymore’ and ‘not acceptable.’ He made these comments following the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in June.
What Aston Martin is doing now is just, in my opinion, not acceptable. It’s not F1 standards anymore.
Steiner also suggested that Lawrence Stroll’s perceived impatience, characterised by a tendency to implement changes if results are not immediate, conflicts with the longer development cycles inherent in Formula 1.
Lawrence Stroll, however, acknowledged in December 2025 that patience would be necessary with the Honda partnership for 2026, while maintaining high expectations. He reiterated his confidence in Honda’s power unit and engineers during the official partnership launch in January 2026.
Fernando Alonso, despite the team’s struggles, recently extended his contract with Aston Martin for the 2027 season and beyond. He has defended Honda, suggesting that past criticisms during his McLaren tenure were largely influenced by media narratives.
In August 2026, Aston Martin introduced a significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which Steiner praised for improving the team’s competitiveness. This development allowed them to move into the midfield, outperforming Cadillac, Williams, and Haas.
