Aston Martin Finds Relief in Brazil, but the Straights Expose Its Weakness

Aston Martin has experienced in Brazil one of those Fridays that in another season, would have gone unnoticed but that in 2026 taste like glory. The British team completed the first day of the São Paulo Grand Prix without the reliability problems that ruined its weekend in Mexico, where Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll retired after only five laps. The news although modest, represents a breather for a team that has suffered more than it should with the Honda power unit.

"I think everything has been within expectations, the positive thing is the reliability compared to last weekend's. We have been able to complete our entire program" Mike Krack, Aston Martin track boss declared after the day, Alonso finished fifteenth in the second free practice session, 1.775 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, while Stroll was eighteenth, discreet records but that allow the team to work with real data and focus on the setup.

The Interlagos circuit, with its long climb from the exit of turn 12, has exposed the AMR26's main weakness, the lack of top speed: "There is a long climb from the exit of turn 12 and we need to find a way to be a little more competitive there but in general, it has been a decent Friday" Krack noted, the German engineer was more explicit when analyzing the long runs: "We have seen during the session that we were vulnerable. Three or four cars overtook us in the long run, so it is something that worries a little" he admitted.

The vulnerability on the straight is a known problem for Aston Martin which has been dragging a power deficit with the Honda engine since the start of the season. In Brazil where top speed is decisive, that weakness becomes more evident. The team tried to compensate for it with a higher aerodynamic load configuration but the balance is still not ideal: "You have to protect yourself as much as possible on the straights and then see what you can do in the corners" Krack explained.

Despite the difficulties, the Aston Martin track boss showed himself satisfied with the work done: "The circuits are different and here we have these slots for the rain and a very different asphalt, you keep learning and optimizing the car. You always find small details" he added. The rain that could make its presence felt during the weekend, adds an element of uncertainty that could benefit the team if it manages to better manage the changing conditions.

Stroll, for his part, was brief in his assessment: "It's fine" he responded when asked about the car's behavior. The Canadian who has had a complicated season, trusts that the team can find the necessary pace to fight for points in Interlagos. Aston Martin faces the rest of the weekend with the objective of maximizing its options and scoring the first points since the return of the summer holidays, the recovered reliability is a first step, but the straight-line speed remains a pending subject.

If the team manages to find the right balance it could fight to enter Q2 and with a little luck, score some points. Friday has been decent but the challenge is yet to come.