Aston Martin build 2026 success on 2025 car: 'Only way to know it's race ready'

For anyone who looks at the Drivers' and Constructors' standings and sees a "14" next to the name of Aston Martin, they might assume that the Silverstone-based squad is not putting in the work necessary to triumph in the pinnacle of motorsport. And they would be wrong to do so, as Cowell revealed on Sunday evening after the Miami Grand Prix.

"There are some technologies that are targeted for '26 that will be race proven on the '25 car. The only way you know something's ready to go racing [is] if you've gone racing and it worked," said the British team principal to media like GPblog, clarifying that the team's full focus is on 2026 indeed.

"We use the 25 car as a way of thoroughly proving new technology out. And we'll see that through the second half of the season," he added.

"But there are aerodynamic, vehicle dynamic aspects that we're working on that we want to introduce on this car in order to dial in the tools that we've got in what's a relatively young team that's now operating with the tools that the big teams have had for decades," pinpointing one of the crucial aspects Aston Martin still has to develop itself in, fully adopting a top team culture.

For the upcoming race, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, teams are bringing upgrades that they hope may give them the edge on the championship battle, like say, Red Bull Racing.

Although for Aston Martin the situation is different,as Cowell previously mentioned, it does not mean that the team are foregoing on the 2025 season. On the contrary, says Cowell responding to a question from GPblog. "We might bring some bits to Imola. We've got some time to work out whether that's the right thing to do or not."

As of March, acclaimed designer, Adrian Newey is hard at work for the British green racing team with the goal of being championship ready come the 2026 F1 season, which is set to undergo a comprehenssive regulations change into the chassis, the aerodynamic aspect and the Power Unit side of things as well.

It is precisely the next era under new regulations the team is targetting, but an increase in sporting performance is expected as it would prove their 2026 approach is the right one, at least as they prepare to face the upcoming and crucial season of F1 racing.