Aston Martin struggles persist despite Miami upgrades push

Miami: Incremental fixes, persistent problems

Aston Martin approached the Miami Grand Prix as a critical test of its partnership with Honda in the 2026 F1 era. According to Mundo Deportivo, the race was marked in red on the team's calendar weeks in advance—a moment where the green machines needed to demonstrate progress on the vibration issues that have plagued the project since the season began.

However, the early signs were discouraging. RacingNews365 reported that both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll found themselves at the mercy of the stewards after falling outside the 107% time threshold in sprint qualifying. Marca noted that while the team made aerodynamic and internal improvements, Alonso continued to suffer on track, with vibrations remaining a tangible problem despite weeks of targeted development work.

Scope of Miami upgrades clarified

According to Marca, Aston Martin's Miami package was more conservative than some rivals. While McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull received the most significant bodywork and aero updates, the Aston Martin received only internal improvements intended to enhance car behaviour—not the aerodynamic overhaul deployed by competitors like Williams.

B-spec speculation denied

Following Miami's disappointing results, speculation emerged that Aston Martin was planning a major 'B-spec' car overhaul for the Belgian Grand Prix in mid-July. Crash.net reported that Aston Martin has denied these claims, suggesting the team is pursuing a more measured development path rather than a comprehensive redesign at the next opportunity.

Alonso's future decision looming

Against this backdrop of technical struggle, Motorsport.com revealed that Fernando Alonso will decide on his F1 future around the summer break. The 44-year-old is now in his 23rd season, and his contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of 2026.