Alonso hails AMR26 as start of “something important” with Newey

Fernando Alonso has said 2026 could be the beginning of "something very important" as Aston Martin unveiled the AMR26, their first-ever car designed by Adrian Newey.

With legendary aerodynamicist Newey now the team principal, a new, exclusive engine supplier in Honda, and a state-of-the-art Silverstone facility, Aston Martin are tipped by many to be the grid’s biggest improvers in 2026.

Taking place in Saudi Arabia, home of Aston’s title sponsor Aramco, a live launch event revealed the new-look AMR26 fully painted in their iconic British racing green.

At the event, two-time world champion Alonso said: "I feel this is a very important moment for the team."

"It's the very first time we are a works team. We have all the new pieces coming together, we have the factory now completed, we have the wind tunnel, we have Honda, and we have a new set of regulations.

"I feel that it's the beginning of something important in the next coming years. As I said, very proud, very excited to be part of the project."

Alonso also revealed his first thoughts when finding out he would be driving a Newey-designed car, having raced against his new team principal across two decades.

"A very proud moment, for sure. I've been racing against Adrian for the whole of my career and now, finally, I can drive one of his cars.

A huge challenge this year with the new set of regulations and being a works team, having Honda in our side, Aramco and the challenge that the sustainable fuels has been for the 2026 regulations."

For Lance Stroll, who has been with the Silverstone-based team since before its rebranding in 2021, the AMR26 launch was an opportunity to reflect on how far Aston Martin have come.

But the Canadian also made sure to emphasise the British team's long-term ambitions to be at the very front of F1.

"When I think back to the team we were in 2021, and when you see everything that's happened in Silverstone today, the transformation is incredible, the ambition we have as a team.

"We want to win. We want to fight for race wins and championships in the future. And I think it's just very exciting and motivating for everyone to be a part of that. "