Pedro de la Rosa praises Fernando Alonso's leadership at Aston Martin amid early season struggles. The team faces challenges with the AMR26 car, including vibration issues and doubts about the chassis design.
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Former Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa believes Fernando Alonso’s message to Aston Martin staff during the team’s early struggles this season is a clear example of his leadership.
Aston Martin’s start to the 2026 season has been far from ideal, with Alonso and Lance Stroll both finding it difficult to get the most out of the AMR26. The Honda-powered car has also been plagued by significant vibration issues.
Adding to their problems, there are now doubts about how effective the Adrian Newey-designed chassis really is. Many had expected Newey’s arrival would push Aston Martin closer to the front, but so far, things haven’t panned out as hoped.
Speaking to AS, De la Rosa praised how Alonso has handled the situation behind the scenes. He called it a ‘luxury’ to work alongside the two-time champion.
“Working with Fernando is a luxury, I have always said it and it is a source of inspiration, with him I do not stop learning,” he said.
“We are in a difficult situation, but Fernando is there supporting, supporting his shoulder if we have to work harder, and with a lot of desire.
“It’s not a Fernando who is disappointed or anything, it’s simply: ‘You have to work and here I am’. That’s a great leader.”
Despite their ongoing struggles, Aston Martin may be getting closer to a breakthrough.
According to Spanish news outlet Mundo Deportivo, F1 journalist Carlos Miquel mentioned on the Cope GP Podcast that solutions could be on the horizon for Aston Martin’s issues.
Fernando Alonso's message emphasized leadership during the team's early struggles this season.
Aston Martin is struggling with the AMR26 car, experiencing significant vibration issues and doubts about the chassis designed by Adrian Newey.
Many expected Adrian Newey's arrival to improve Aston Martin's performance, but the team has not seen the desired results so far this season.
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It is believed that several fixes are being developed, with hopes that these changes will address reliability concerns and help unlock the true potential of the AMR-26.
Miquel said: “There will be reliability improvements at Aston Martin; they have permission to achieve this. If they don’t have vibrations like they did on Friday at Suzuka.
“If they manage to fix it with engine modifications and some tweaks to the steering so the vibration doesn’t reach the drivers, the car will be faster, more competitive, and we could achieve more than just finishing a Grand Prix.”
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