“I’m really sorry” – Aston Martin says sorry to fans after weeks of frustration
Aston Martin has apologized to their fans after a tough weekend at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The team knows the first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season will be challenging, and any car upgrades are planned for next month.
They plan to improve both the chassis and the power unit, with Honda, their engine supplier, expected to get the biggest upgrade. After fixing a big vibration problem following the Japanese GP with some hardware and software changes, they still struggle with reliability and speed.
In Barcelona, both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso started from the back of the grid, with lap times more than three seconds slower than the quickest. Unfortunately, neither finished the race—Stroll retired on lap 5 and Alonso on lap 37. This might also be Alonso’s last time racing at Barcelona-Catalunya since the track won’t be on the calendar until 2028.
Right now, Alonso is 18th in the World Championship with just one point, and Stroll hasn’t scored in four races this season. Aston Martin sits 10th in the Constructors Championship, above only Cadillac, who haven’t scored points yet.
It’s been a disappointing start for sure, and Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack offered a heartfelt apology to the fans. He said, “It was a tough weekend and hard to take, especially knowing how many fans came out wearing green shirts to support us. We wanted to give them something to cheer about, but starting from the pit lane and not finishing well just wasn’t what anyone hoped for.”
Mike added, “I’m really sorry to all the fans who spent their time and money to watch us. We couldn’t give them the performance they deserve, and that’s the hardest part.”