'I'm really sorry' - Aston Martin issue public apology after weeks of 'disappointment'

Aston Martin have issued a public apology to fans after their latest 'disappointing' performance at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

The British manufacturer reluctantly appreciates that they will struggle during the first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season and are expected to delay any upgrades until next month.

It is understood Aston Martin expects to make changes to the chassis and power unit, with power unit supplier Honda set to be given the most engine upgrade tokens of any manufacturer.

Aston Martin have already tackled a severe vibration issue following a combination of hardware and software changes introduced after the Japanese GP. However, they have still not been able to resolve the reliability issues and the lack of speed that have plagued them all season.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso both lined up on the back row of the grid in Barcelona, having set times over three seconds off the Q1 pace.

It didn't get any better when the racing started either, as both drivers were forced to retire in Spain. Stroll lasted until just lap five, while Alonso made it to lap 37. It could be the final time he drives in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which is not set to be part of the schedule again until 2028.

Alonso sits 18th in the World Championship rankings with just one point all season, while Stroll is one of four races yet to register a single point in 2026. Aston Martin are 10th in the Constructors Championship, only above Cadillac, who are themselves yet to score a point.

There can be no ignoring what a disappointing start to the season it has been and Chief Trackside Officer, Mike Krack, has issued an apology to all Aston Martin supporters.

“A disappointing weekend, disappointing weeks, difficult weeks,” Krack told media. “I think we expected a difficult weekend, but then having poor performance and then not finishing or having two DNFs does not make it easy.

“In the first place, I feel sorry for all the fans in green shirts in the grandstands in the paddock. There were many.

“When we drove in and out [of the circuit], it was so nice to see all these people with the green shirts, and we could not give them anything to cheer about, which is a shame because we started from the pit lane and then we could not finish the race in a decent result.

“So in the first place, I'm really sorry for all the fans that have bought expensive tickets to see, to see their heroes, and we could not give them the pathway to perform."