Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team: Drivers, Honda Era and 2026 Update

Introduction

The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team is a British Formula 1 racing operation based in Silverstone, England. It competes in the FIA Formula One World Championship with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as its race drivers.

As of 11 August 2026, the Silverstone squad is competing with the AMR26, its first Formula 1 car powered by Honda under the new works partnership.

The project has attracted major attention because Aston Martin has invested in a new technology campus, its own wind tunnel, Honda power units and senior technical leadership led by Adrian Newey.

However, the 2026 season has so far been difficult. Aston Martin sits 10th in the Constructors’ Championship with one point after 11 Grands Prix, with Fernando Alonso scoring that point in Monaco.

What Is the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team?

It is the Formula 1 racing operation carrying the Aston Martin name.

The organisation is based at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, close to the famous British Grand Prix circuit.

Its Formula 1 operating company is AMR GP Limited.

The current Aston Martin-branded entry started competing in 2021, when Racing Point was renamed after the British sports-car brand.

The racing organisation itself has a much longer history. Its roots can be traced through several previous team names, including:

• Jordan Grand Prix
• Midland
• Spyker
• Force India
• Racing Point
• Aston Martin

This means the modern operation should not be confused with Aston Martin’s original Formula 1 programme from the late 1950s.

Aston Martin F1 Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Official team name	Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team
Motorsport	Formula 1
Headquarters	Silverstone, United Kingdom
2026 car	AMR26
Power unit	Honda
Race driver	Fernando Alonso
Race driver	Lance Stroll
Third/reserve driver	Jak Crawford
Executive Chairman	Lawrence Stroll
Managing Technical Partner	Adrian Newey
Chief Technical Officer	Enrico Cardile
Title partner	Aramco
Aston Martin-branded F1 return	2021
2026 points as of 11 August	1
2026 Constructors’ position as of 11 August	10th

Who Drives for Aston Martin in 2026?

The team’s main drivers are Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is one of the most experienced Formula 1 competitors.

The Spanish racer is a two-time Formula 1 World Champion and joined Aston Martin for the 2023 season.

His arrival produced an immediate improvement in results.

During 2023, Alonso achieved eight podium finishes, helping make that season the strongest yet for the modern Aston Martin project.

The 2026 campaign has been much more difficult.

As of 11 August 2026, Alonso has scored one championship point, earned by finishing 10th at the Monaco Grand Prix.

His existing agreement runs through the end of the 2026 season.

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll continues as the second race driver.

The Canadian has been part of the Silverstone operation since its Racing Point period and remained with the organisation when it changed identity in 2021.

As of 11 August 2026, Stroll has not scored a championship point during the current season.

Jak Crawford

American racer Jak Crawford serves as Aston Martin’s third and reserve driver for 2026.

His role gives the team additional support during a season in which Formula 1 introduced major technical changes.

The AMR26 and Honda Partnership

One of the biggest changes for Aston Martin arrived in 2026.

The team moved away from Mercedes power and entered a new works partnership with Honda.

Honda Racing Corporation develops, manufactures and operates the power unit used in the AMR26.

This is important because Aston Martin is no longer simply buying an engine from another Formula 1 constructor’s supplier arrangement.

The partnership gives the organisation a closer relationship with the company designing its power unit.

The AMR26 was also created for Formula 1’s major 2026 regulation change, which introduced new rules covering cars, aerodynamics and hybrid engines.

For readers who regularly follow Formula 1, technology and major international stories, more related coverage can also be found on Forma Magazine.

Why Adrian Newey Is Important to Aston Martin

Another major part of the project is Adrian Newey.

Newey joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner after leaving Red Bull Racing.

He formally began working with the organisation in 2025 and is also a shareholder in the racing business.

Newey is closely involved in the technical direction of the team.

There has been some confusion over his exact title.

Aston Martin originally announced that Newey would take on the Team Principal position from 2026. However, Lawrence Stroll later clarified the leadership structure in March 2026.

The organisation currently describes Newey primarily as its Managing Technical Partner, while Formula 1 lists him as the team’s chief.

Because of this, calling him Aston Martin’s senior technical leader is more accurate than simply using a traditional Team Principal description.

Who Owns the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team?

Lawrence Stroll is the Executive Chairman and controlling shareholder of the Formula 1 project.

The racing operation is legally run by AMR GP Limited.

UK corporate records show that AMR Performance Group Limited controls at least 75% of the shares and voting rights in AMR GP Limited.

The ownership structure also includes outside investment.

Investment company Arctos Partners acquired a minority interest in the team’s holding company.

Adrian Newey also became a shareholder when he joined the organisation, although a reliable public percentage for his personal stake has not been disclosed.

It would therefore be inaccurate to give an exact figure for Newey’s ownership.

Aston Martin’s Return to Formula 1

The Aston Martin name first appeared in Formula 1 during 1959 and 1960.

That original factory effort competed in only a small number of World Championship races.

The present Silverstone team has a completely different origin.

Its modern history began with Jordan Grand Prix, founded by Eddie Jordan.

Over the years, the operation changed ownership and identity several times.

It became Midland, then Spyker and later Force India.

After Force India entered administration in 2018, a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll acquired its racing assets.

A new operation competed under the Racing Point identity before being renamed Aston Martin for 2021.

Racing Point’s Grand Prix Victory

Before the Aston Martin name returned, Racing Point achieved an important result.

Sergio Pérez won the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.

That race remains part of the statistical history of the modern Silverstone organisation.

However, the victory happened under the Racing Point name.

It should therefore not be described as a race win achieved by the Aston Martin-branded entry.

First Aston Martin Podium

Aston Martin returned to the grid in 2021 with Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll.

Vettel produced the team’s first podium under its new identity when he finished second at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The following seasons brought mixed results.

The biggest improvement came in 2023 after Fernando Alonso joined.

Fernando Alonso’s Strong 2023 Season

The opening part of the 2023 campaign changed expectations around the Silverstone project.

Alonso reached the podium six times in the opening eight races.

He eventually completed the season with eight podium finishes.

Aston Martin finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.

The result demonstrated that the operation could compete much closer to Formula 1’s leading teams when its car performed strongly.

The following seasons proved more challenging.

Aston Martin again finished fifth in 2024 before dropping to seventh during 2025.

The New Technology Campus

Lawrence Stroll’s Formula 1 plan has included major investment in infrastructure.

The organisation developed the AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.

The site covers around 37,000 square metres and includes engineering, manufacturing and development facilities.

A major part of the complex is its Formula 1 wind tunnel.

Aston Martin started operating its new wind tunnel in March 2025.

Previously, the team had used Mercedes facilities for some aerodynamic development work.

Having an in-house tunnel allows more of the car-development process to happen within Aston Martin’s own headquarters.

By the start of the 2026 programme, the wider technology campus had been completed.

Aramco’s Role

Aramco became an important partner of the racing operation in 2022.

A later agreement made the Saudi energy company the team’s exclusive title partner from January 2024.

That agreement is scheduled to continue through 2028.

This explains why the official name is now Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team.

Aramco also has a technical role.

For the 2026 programme, it is involved in developing and supplying FIA-compliant sustainable racing fuel used alongside the Honda power unit.

How Is Aston Martin Performing in 2026?

The beginning of the Honda era has not produced immediate success.

As of 11 August 2026, Aston Martin is:

• 10th in the Constructors’ Championship
• On 1 championship point
• Without a podium
• Without a Grand Prix victory
• Without a pole position

The team’s only point from the opening 11 Grands Prix came through Alonso’s 10th-place finish in Monaco.

This is an important distinction for readers.

Aston Martin has built impressive facilities and recruited major technical names, but those investments have not yet translated into strong 2026 race results.

Formula 1 performance can change quickly as teams introduce upgrades, so current standings should always be read with a date attached.

Why the Honda Deal Matters

Honda’s arrival represents much more than a branding change.

Before 2026, Aston Martin used Mercedes power units.

Working directly with Honda gives the racing organisation a dedicated engine relationship.

The squad has also taken greater responsibility for important parts of the car, including areas that were previously connected to its Mercedes customer arrangement.

The strategy is designed to give Aston Martin more control over the complete Formula 1 package.

Whether this produces championship-winning results cannot yet be confirmed.

The correct position in August 2026 is that the team remains in the early stage of its Honda works era.

Does Aston Martin Have a Formula 1 Championship?

No.

The modern Aston Martin-branded Formula 1 entry has not won a Drivers’ Championship or Constructors’ Championship.

It has achieved podium finishes, particularly during Alonso’s strong 2023 season, but it has not yet become a title-winning operation.

The wider Silverstone team’s history includes a victory under the Racing Point identity, but this should not be confused with a Grand Prix win under the Aston Martin name.

Is Aston Martin the Same Team as Racing Point?

The current racing organisation developed directly from Racing Point.

Racing Point was renamed Aston Martin for the 2021 season.

The Silverstone operation can therefore trace its organisational history through Racing Point, Force India and several earlier identities.

However, branding, ownership structures, technical partnerships and company arrangements have changed over time.

Where Is the Team Based?

The headquarters are located at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, England.

Its technology campus is close to Silverstone Circuit, one of the most historic venues in Formula 1.

The site now contains many of the facilities needed to design, develop and operate a modern Grand Prix car.

What Is Aston Martin Trying to Achieve?

The organisation has made clear through its investment programme that it wants to compete at the front of Formula 1.

Major steps have included:

• Building a new technology campus
• Opening its own wind tunnel
• Signing Adrian Newey
• Recruiting senior technical staff
• Becoming a Honda works partner
• Expanding its engineering capabilities

These actions show the scale of the project.

However, future race wins or championships cannot be presented as guaranteed.

Formula 1 success depends on car performance, reliability, development, strategy and competition from other teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who drives for Aston Martin in Formula 1?

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are the race drivers for the 2026 season.

What car does Aston Martin use in 2026?

The team races the AMR26.

Which engine does Aston Martin use?

Honda supplies the Formula 1 power unit from the 2026 season.

Is Adrian Newey working for Aston Martin?

Yes. Adrian Newey is Managing Technical Partner and one of the senior figures responsible for the team’s technical direction.

Who controls the Formula 1 operation?

Lawrence Stroll is Executive Chairman and controlling shareholder.

Is Aramco the title sponsor?

Yes. Aramco is the exclusive title partner under an agreement running from 2024 through 2028.

Has Aston Martin won an F1 championship?

No. The current Aston Martin-branded entry has not won either Formula 1 world championship.

How is Aston Martin doing in 2026?

As of 11 August 2026, it is 10th in the Constructors’ standings with one championship point after 11 Grands Prix.

Final Words

Aston Martin’s Formula 1 project combines one of motorsport’s famous automotive names with a long-established Silverstone racing operation.

The team now has Honda power, a completed technology campus, its own wind tunnel and Adrian Newey within its senior technical structure.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll continue to lead its driving line-up.

The biggest question is whether all of this investment can eventually produce consistent front-running performance.

For now, the verified picture is simple: 2026 marks the beginning of Aston Martin’s Honda works era, but the team has struggled during the opening part of the season and sits at the bottom of the Constructors’ standings as of 11 August 2026.