Backed by new team principal and legendary designer Adrian Newey, a state-of-the-art Silverstone facility, and an exclusive engine deal with Honda, hopes were high Aston would finally begin fighting towards the top of the grid coming into the 2026 season. From the very start at Melbourne, however, it was clear the team in green had serious issues.

The main issue has been the battery vibrations in the AMR26, said to risk permanent nerve damage to the drivers at the start of the season, with the most recent race at Miami the first Grand Prix where both Stroll and Fernando Alonso have been able finish the full race.

Stroll, however, is choosing to be positive in the build up to his home Grand Prix in Montreal, with engine supplier Honda also hoping the Aston Martin drivers will be able to build further confidence this weekend.

Speaking on Aston Martin's website, Stroll said: "We've got some incredibly talented people at the AMR Technology Campus and there's huge potential with the tools like the new CoreWeave AIR Tunnel and the simulator.

Stroll was then asked whether the difficult start has at all shaken his belief in Aston Martin's project, with the 27-year-old instead arguing the team's current foundations will lead to something "very special" in the years to come.

Stroll said: "Difficult moments always test you, but they also show you who really believes in what you're building. It's easy to believe when results are coming and everything feels good. The real challenge is staying committed when things are harder and you have to work through problems together.

While being asked on what his ideal car design would look like, Stroll offered insight into Aston Martin's belief in Newey. The multiple title-winning designer's position as Aston Martin's team principal has come under increasing speculation with his former Red Bull colleague Jonathan Wheatley on the market following his departure as Audi boss.

Stroll highlighted Newey's work at Red Bull specifically during Sebastian Vettel's 2010-2013 title run as proof that Aston have the "right person for the job." He said: "I like strong mechanical grip in low-speed corners and good aero grip in high-speed corners.

Slowly but surely, Aston Martin and Honda have been improving since the start of the year. Following the five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix, Alonso confirmed the car "behaves like normal now," with Honda setting a new target this weekend in Montreal.

In Honda's weekend preview, trackside chief engineer Shintaro Orihana said: “At the Miami Grand Prix, we confirmed our battery vibration improvements and our overall power unit reliability. It was also a key opportunity to learn on the energy management side under the updated 2026 regulations, and this will continue in Canada.”