Lance Stroll in the AMR26 - Photo: Aston Martin

The real reason behind the AMR26’s blue flashing light in Barcelona testing

19:01, 31 Jan

byTobia Elia

The new Aston Martin AMR26 drew attention during the 2026 Barcelona testing not only for its technical solutions, but also for another unusual aspect.

The Lawrence Stroll-owned outfit appeared slightly behind schedule compared to the rest of the grid, only taking to the track on the penultimate day of testing and managing just four laps with Lance Stroll at the wheel.

The fifth and final day, however, saw a far busier Fernando Alonso, who completed 61 laps as he began getting to grips with the first Aston Martin car shaped under Adrian Newey’s direction.

The AMR26 also sparked plenty of discussion online during the test after viewers noticed a blue flashing light near the diffuser — an area that is normally illuminated in red — leading many fans to wonder about the reason behind the different colour.

Photo: Aston Martin

The team was in fact completing speed-limited runs in the early stages of its programme, especially down the straights, as part of its initial testing procedures.

Once those checks were concluded and the car moved on to regular running, the light reverted to its usual red, matching the rest of the field.

Fernando Alonso gives first impressions of Newey’s AMR26

The 44-year-old Spaniard, who drove the AMR26 for the first time in Barcelona yesterday as mentioned earlier, reflected on the renewed energy and motivation Adrian Newey has brought into the garage.

Alonso pointed to the team’s growing emphasis on precision and relentless development — qualities he believes clearly mirror Newey’s influence within the squad.

Read the full story here.

GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.