Aston Martin emerges from the shadows and sees a better opening at Sepang

Aston Martin is emerging from the shadows. At Sepang, Fernando Alonso ended Friday in 15th place, while the team finished that day of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia in a more promising part of the standings than at recent events. The AMR26 is described as the eighth car on the grid, but points do not appear out of reach.

The renewed hope remains cautious: Aston Martin seems to have found a way forward after a difficult spell, particularly since its best result of the 2026 season, ninth place in the Netherlands almost two months ago. Several factors may help explain the change. The Sepang circuit is one of them: Fernando Alonso has won there three times and found consistent lines on the racing tyres from the outset.

Pedro de la Rosa, the team’s ambassador, said the car was already finding its limit with Alonso at this circuit. He also noted that the driver had reached the top 10 on his first attempt. The AMR26 can also defend itself in Malaysia. The circuit is described as less sensitive to the power unit, meaning the Honda engine deficit would be less noticeable there.

The strategic question remains: De la Rosa pointed to uncertainty over whether the race would require one or two stops, with badly broken-up asphalt likely to increase wear and overheating. Aston Martin can target Q2, an objective that had been out of reach at Monza; Madrid depended more heavily on the power unit, while Baku had been particularly difficult. The team’s modest total of three points in 2026 could grow at this Grand Prix, on a circuit few had expected to feature.