HONDA The Power of Dreams

Best Lap Time: 1:39.883
Laps Completed: 36

Best Lap Time: 1:38.248
Laps Completed: 98

Best Lap Time: 1:38.165
Laps Completed: 72

The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team (AMAF1) completed three days of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Lance Stroll took on driving duties on the opening day. Following the unveiling of the 2026 livery in Saudi Arabia on February 9, the AMR26 made its first appearance on track.

Stroll ran in the morning session, completing 36 laps. In the afternoon, the Honda team detected a power unit data anomaly that required analysis, resulting in limited running for the remainder of the day.

Fernando Alonso took the wheel of the AMR26 for his first outing in Bahrain as the team continued its test program.

Alonso completed 55 laps in the morning session and a further 43 laps in the afternoon, logging valuable mileage across the full day.

On the final day of Pre-Season Testing 1 in Bahrain, Stroll returned to the cockpit of the AMR26. He headed out at around 10:30 a.m. and ran in both the morning and afternoon sessions.

The team focused on aero mapping, as well as low- and high-fuel runs, completing 72 laps.

Across the three days in Bahrain, Stroll and Alonso completed a total of 206 laps in the AMR26, allowing the team to gather important data. The team and drivers now prepare for Pre-Season Testing 2 beginning February 18, followed by final preparations for the season-opening round in Melbourne.

“It was good to be back in the AMR26 and get some solid mileage today. We worked through our program and moved into longer consecutive runs, exploring different setups. Testing is always about learning and today was no different.

“It's clear there is a lot of work for us to still do and we need to improve our pace. The team will analyze everything over the coming days to make sure we are well prepared for the test next week and for the first race of the season in Melbourne.”

“Today was my first proper experience in the AMR26 after only completing three laps in Barcelona. We had a busy morning on track working through the run plan and the various test items. The afternoon was more limited as the team investigated a data anomaly with the PU. There's still plenty of work to do to get the car where we want it, but we'll use these two tests to learn as much as possible and keep building.”

“After completing the shakedown in Barcelona, we have now finished our first test of the new season. We encountered a few issues in the early part of the test, but that is precisely why we test—especially under new regulations.

“This entire package is very new, and it takes time to understand all the elements and identify areas for improvement. I would like to sincerely thank everyone in the team for their efforts over these three days. Realistically, we recognize that there is still considerable performance to unlock from this package, and it is vital that we analyze everything we have learned before the next test.”

“It's clear after the first week of the first pre-season test here in Bahrain that we are behind schedule and not where we want to be.

“We had limited running in Barcelona and we ran into some issues on day one of the test this week in Bahrain. Fernando and Lance have logged some decent mileage over the last few days, but we are catching up and always learning about the new package.

“We have the talent and resources to improve the car, and the team and our partners are all working incredibly hard to make this happen, both at track and back at Silverstone.”

“Over the first three days of testing in Bahrain, a total of 206 laps were completed, making it a highly productive period for both Honda and the AMAF1 Team. The sessions provided valuable insights not only into the power unit itself, but also into the overall car package, including its integration with the chassis. The new regulations bring significant changes — not only to the car’s driving characteristics, but also to how electrical energy is harvested and deployed over the course of a lap. Together with the team and drivers, efforts focused on developing new approaches to energy management.

“Following the shakedown in Barcelona, this marked the first full-scale test at the circuit, and it also delivered important learnings in terms of trackside operational collaboration. While greater mileage would have been ideal, the three days generated meaningful data and key technical insights.

“Clear areas for further work have been identified, both at HRC Sakura in Japan and at the track. In close cooperation with the team, priorities for improvement have been defined, and development is progressing at full intensity. Although the overall test program remains in a catch-up phase, the foundation established in Bahrain positions the team to maximize the next three days of testing.”