Lance Stroll expressed significant disappointment following Aston Martin‘s rocky beginning to the pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 season, stating, “we’re four seconds behind.”
The Silverstone-based team encountered delays, arriving four days late to the initial group shakedown in Barcelona. During the first day of this week’s Bahrain test, Stroll managed to complete only 36 laps, the second fewest among drivers, with only Franco Colapinto doing less.
The setback stemmed from Aston Martin identifying a “data anomaly” linked to their new Honda power unit, which limited Stroll’s participation in the session where Max Verstappen dominated with a total of 136 laps.
“At this moment, we appear to be about four seconds off the leading teams, maybe even four and a half seconds,” Stroll remarked. “It’s hard to determine the fuel loads and setups other teams are using. However, we need to find a way to gain those four seconds in performance.”
The 27-year-old driver recorded a fastest time of 1m39.883s, which placed him 5.214 seconds behind the leader Lando Norris. Stroll noted the standard caveats often associated with pre-season testing.
Despite high hopes for this year’s regulatory changes, which include a new engine and Adrian Newey taking the helm as team principal, Aston Martin’s start has not met expectations. The substantial investments from billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll have yet to translate into a competitive vehicle, particularly after a late start to the wind tunnel program, as mentioned by Newey.
Stroll shared, “We possess all the necessary resources to contend for race victories and championships. Currently, we aren’t achieving that, and we need to evaluate how to improve our performance.”
“Are we aspiring to win races? Absolutely. Are we in a position to compete for victories right now? It doesn’t seem like it. But does this rule out our chances of competing in the future? I firmly believe we can,” he continued.
Stroll acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the team’s future performance, stating, “I don’t have a crystal ball; I didn’t possess one before the season commenced. We are where we are today, and it doesn’t appear promising. However, can things change in the coming weeks? Definitely. Will it definitely improve significantly? I can’t say for sure. I don’t have the answers to those questions.”
He emphasized the team’s commitment to improvement, stating, “We are exerting every effort possible. Our focus is on enhancing the car and the engine every moment of every day. Time will reveal how competitive we will be at the season opener and throughout the year.”
Lastly, Stroll pointed out that the issues they face are a “combination of factors,” highlighting concerns about the “engine, balance, and grip.” When asked about any positives, he simply replied, “The livery looks nice.”
