The Aston Martin AMR26, the first car designed by Adrian Newey, caused a stir when it emerged from the garage. Its dramatic styling and extreme engineering solutions exceeded even the highest expectations.

From the tip of its ‘pelican’ nose (the front extremity of the car designed to optimize airflow under the chassis) to the rear wing pillar-mounted suspension arms, the car is radically different from any other. The heavily downward-ramped sidepods (lateral housings that channel air to radiators and diffusers), with tiny horizontal inlets, resemble tubes rather than pods, similar to the Red Bull RB22, but in this case they do not extend to the floor edge, leaving a large exposed floor area feeding the diffuser (rear floor element that generates downforce and accelerates airflow). A cooling exit duct is placed just below the cockpit, between the sidepod tubes and engine cover.

As with Red Bull, the sidepod shape suggests that a significant portion of the radiator area – probably including the intercooler – is located high and centrally, optimizing airflow and engine cooling.

The front pushrod suspension (system transferring wheel loads to dampers via angled arms) has its upper rearward wishbone mounted even further back than McLaren, creating a large offset triangular layout in plan view. In profile, the arms appear to form an aerodynamic cascade that guides airflow toward the rear.

The most radical element is at the rear. The upper arms of the rear pushrod suspension are mounted extremely high, attaching at the center where the rear wing (aerodynamic element generating downforce and stability) is mounted. While not a new concept – teams like Williams and Red Bull implemented similar solutions in the 2010s – the height is unprecedented. This creates a clear space for the diffuser exit and could potentially partially replace the now-banned beam wing, connecting diffuser airflow to the underside of the rear wing.

The front wing looks simpler than those on other cars and is likely not the final version. The combination of wide nose and narrow sidepods, shared with Red Bull, maximizes the high-pressure area behind the front wheels, directing wheel wake outward to clear the sidepod and feed the exposed floor to the rear diffuser.

Little is known yet about the new Honda power unit (engine and associated systems transmitting power to the car) driving through Aston Martin’s own gearbox (first time the team develops its own transmission), but the progress of this striking design will be closely monitored as the 2026 season unfolds.

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