Aston Martin Formula 1 team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa says the 2026 chassis could be the "fifth‑fastest" on circuits that play to its strengths. He framed the assessment as a realistic target rather than a championship claim.
The statement comes after Aston Martin moved from customer Mercedes power units to a works partnership with Honda for the upcoming technical era. De la Rosa noted that the Japanese engine currently lacks outright power and has suffered reliability setbacks, which have limited the team's performance.
Despite those challenges, the team has reported recent progress on the Honda unit’s reliability. Aston Martin hopes the chassis advantage will help offset the power‑unit shortfall, and will continue to develop both chassis and engine integration ahead of the 2026 season.
