The British team confirmed it detected an anomaly in the data from its Honda power unit halting tests. The squad began preventive checks to identify the source of the issue before returning to the track.
The Silverstone-based outfit experienced a complicated start to the official 2026 preseason tests in Bahrain after its running program was interrupted by an issue related to the power unit. After completing the morning session as planned, the team confirmed it had to stop its activity in the afternoon upon detecting unexpected behavior in the Honda engine data.
The team released an official statement to explain the situation and made it clear that it was a preventive measure. “We have detected an anomaly in the data,” Aston Martin reported, noting that the team is already carrying out additional checks to understand the exact cause before resuming the testing plan.
In the same communication, the team detailed: “Our power unit test plan with Lance today ran as expected this morning. However, this afternoon we detected an anomaly in the data. We are now conducting preventive checks on the power unit…” The statement reflects the priority being placed on reliability in a context where every preseason lap is valuable.
The issue left Aston Martin with a reduced number of laps during the day, completing just 36, a figure below what was expected for the start of running in Sakhir. The situation is even more significant considering the team also arrived at this week with limited activity in the prior shakedown, increasing the need to log mileage on track.
The 2026 season marks a major technical shift in Formula 1, with new regulations affecting both chassis and power units. In that framework, Aston Martin is also entering a key stage in its technical structure, as this year it officially began its partnership as a works team with Honda, which supplies the engine designed for this new era.
The Japanese power unit is a central component of Aston Martin’s project, as the team aims to take a competitive step forward with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as its full-time drivers. That is why any unusual signal in the early tests forces caution to avoid greater damage or longer delays in development.
The team did not provide specific details about the nature of the problem, but it did make clear that the focus is on solving it before returning to the track. Preseason is the time when early failures are identified and critical systems are fine-tuned ahead of the championship’s start.
Aston Martin hopes to recover the lost time in the coming days of testing in Bahrain, where it will continue evaluating the performance of the AMR26 and the full integration of the Honda engine within the new technical package for 2026.