Aston Martin’s Formula 1 struggles continue to deepen with no clear resolution in sight, according to team ambassador Pedro de la Rosa, who delivered a blunt assessment of the outfit’s ongoing difficulties during Friday practice at Monaco. The Silverstone-based team, which had high expectations entering F1’s current era, has instead found itself mired at the bottom of the championship standings following a problematic transition to Honda power units.
When asked directly whether Aston Martin was beginning to see progress, de la Rosa offered a stark response: “Definitely not yet. We are where we are. It’s a difficult start, especially because we are in a position that we were not expecting to be in.” The Spanish former driver emphasized the challenging nature of the AMR26, noting that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are “doing absolutely an incredible job to drive the car as fast as they can in a reliable and safe way,” despite the machinery’s limitations.
De la Rosa acknowledged the mounting frustration within the team, particularly for the drivers who must repeatedly face media questions about the same persistent problems. “It’s difficult for everyone. I mean, drivers especially, because they have to drive the car, they have to face the car, they have to face the media,” he explained. The situation is compounded by the absence of meaningful upgrades in the immediate future, leaving Aston Martin watching rivals advance while they remain trapped in damage limitation mode.
While the team has made minor improvements—resolving severe vibration issues and addressing Alonso’s seat problems—these gains pale in comparison to Aston Martin’s overall competitive deficit. The Friday sessions at Monaco reinforced these concerns, with both drivers relegated to the bottom of the timing sheets. Alonso continues to battle the car’s unpredictable behavior, including complaints about “random downshifts” and persistent understeer that led to another untidy moment during practice.