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FIA Urged to Monitor Aston Martin After Concerning Start to 2026 Season
Serious concerns have emerged around the early-season struggles of Aston Martin F1 Team, with a prominent figure from Red Bull Racing suggesting that Formula 1’s governing body may need to step in if driver safety becomes a genuine issue.
Former Formula 1 mechanic and Red Bull ambassador Calum Nicholas has raised alarms about Aston Martin’s troubled campaign so far, urging the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to keep a close eye on the situation.
Aston Martin Yet to Finish a Race
The 2026 season has been extremely challenging for Aston Martin. After two race weekends, the team has still not managed to complete a full grand prix. Their problems continued during the Chinese Grand Prix, where both drivers — Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll — were forced to retire, marking another double DNF.
Much of the difficulty appears to be linked to the new technical regulations introduced for the 2026 season. Aston Martin’s switch to a new power unit supplied by Honda has brought unexpected reliability challenges, preventing the team from finishing races.
In addition to the mechanical issues, the AMR26 has been suffering from severe vibrations. These vibrations have not only impacted performance but have also raised concerns about how physically demanding the car has become for the drivers.
During the race in Shanghai, Alonso was seen visibly struggling to control the car. At one stage, the two-time world champion briefly removed his hands from the steering wheel as he battled the intense shaking coming through the chassis. The vibrations reportedly became so uncomfortable that Alonso eventually had to retire from the race.
Nicholas Calls for FIA Attention
Following the race weekend, Nicholas shared his thoughts online while reflecting on several key moments from the event. He first praised Kimi Antonelli, who delivered an impressive performance by claiming victory and becoming Formula 1’s youngest-ever pole sitter.
However, Nicholas also highlighted concerns about the wider impact of the new regulations, particularly regarding the current power unit systems used across the grid.
While he believes the updated chassis and aerodynamic rules have improved the quality of racing, he suggested the engine regulations may be creating complications for some teams.
Speaking specifically about Aston Martin’s situation, Nicholas emphasized that the FIA must intervene if there is any evidence that the car is endangering the drivers.
According to him, protecting driver safety remains the governing body’s most important responsibility.
Red Bull Facing Its Own Challenges
Although Aston Martin’s struggles have been more severe, Red Bull has also experienced a difficult start to the season. The team has scored only 12 points from the opening two races.
Young driver Isack Hadjar was forced to retire from the Australian Grand Prix, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen suffered a retirement in China.
Red Bull has also been dealing with issues related to its new power unit, particularly when it comes to turbo response at the start of races. Verstappen experienced this problem in Shanghai, dropping from eighth on the grid to 12th place on the opening lap.
Despite the early setbacks, Nicholas remains confident that Red Bull has the expertise to overcome these obstacles. He pointed out that developing a brand-new power unit in such a short time is an enormous technical challenge.
However, he believes that if any team on the grid can successfully resolve such issues, it is Red Bull.
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