F1 pundit questions whether Adrian Newey's 'downward spiral' has begun

Former FIA steward and F1 driver Johnny Herbert has raised doubts over whether Adrian Newey may now be entering the downward spiral of his career after the AMR26 he designed has unexpectedly failed to deliver so far. Although Aston Martin boasts top-level personnel and resources, the 2026 season has so far proved to be quite a disaster, with the team scoring just one point and suffering a host of reliability problems. However, the major upgrade package introduced in Hungary allowed Alonso and Stroll to fight more consistently in the midfield after the huge gap that emerged over the opening 10 races. Has Adrian Newey's decline begun? Speaking to a betting site, Herbert questioned why Aston Martin continues to fall short of expectations despite investing heavily in its Formula 1 project and securing some of the biggest names in the paddock: "You look at what they've put together Aston Martin with Adrian Newey, the new factory and all that, and having Fernando on board at the same time and it’s difficult to understand how it has gone so wrong." The former F1 driver suggested the team's difficulties could also raise questions over Newey's ability to deliver the transformation expected of him. With Aston Martin still struggling to produce a genuinely competitive package, Herbert wondered whether the situation could mark the beginning of a decline for the legendary designer, noting that even the most successful figures in sport eventually see their dominance come to an end. "For whatever reason, Adrian hasn't been able to put together a crew that is able to put together a good car or even one that is half competitive for what they are trying to achieve. Interestingly, is this the demise of Adrian Newey, the first sign of him on a downward spiral? It happens in sport even to the very best. It was always going to happen; if not quite yet, then there will be a point when it happens." Photo: Race Pictures Photo: Race Pictures Honda breaks silence on Aston Martin’s ‘secret’ engine upgrade ahead of Dutch GP Honda will bring a significantly revised power unit to Zandvoort as Aston Martin prepares for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Shintaro Orihara confident that the latest specification represents a step forward in performance. The Japanese explained that Honda has focused on improving engine performance by accelerating the combustion process. Among the changes made for the new specification are revisions to the pre-chamber and piston shape to improve combustion, as well as modifications to the lubrication system aimed at reducing friction. He added that Honda had identified a substantial list of areas in which engine performance could be improved. Orihara also expressed his excitement about seeing the upgraded power unit in action at the Dutch Grand Prix. Honda achieved the targets it had set for the Spec 2 engine, leaving him confident in the work carried out by the HRC Sakura Factory ahead of its introduction in the Netherlands.