Aston sim driver offers hopeful view of 2026 regulations

Lance Stroll recently added his voice to the growing chorus of Formula 1 drivers expressing concern over the upcoming 2026 regulations, but there may be more optimism inside his own team.

“I’ve driven it in the simulator, and that’s why I’m a bit sad,” the Canadian told AS. “It’s a shame that in Formula 1 we’re opting for electric power and have had to reduce all the downforce to support battery power.

“It would be fun to see cars that are light, agile, fast, and have a lot of downforce. To put it simply, it would be less of a science project about a battery-powered championship and more of a Formula 1 racing series.

“I think a lot of drivers can agree with that, and I don’t think some of them can talk about it for political reasons.”

Stroll continued: “It’s exciting to think about cars that can be louder, lighter, and not so focused on energy or batteries. That’s not very racing-friendly.”

However, Aston Martin’s Formula 2 driver and simulator tester Jak Crawford painted a more encouraging picture of the 2026 development work underway behind the scenes.

“There’s been a lot of evolution, with both the power unit and the chassis,” he said. “It’s not totally representative of how the car will feel come round one in Australia, but it gives us a good idea.

“I’ve never helped develop a power unit before. It’s fascinating to see the progress we’re making based on our wind tunnel data and the work with Honda.”

Honda, which will supply Aston Martin’s power units from 2026, is said to be pursuing a distinct technical path compared to its rivals.

Aston Martin CEO Andy Cowell recently stated the car’s chassis and power unit already “fit like a glove.”

While Red Bull and the FIA have reportedly been pushing for a possible return to simpler V8 engines, Honda remains committed to the hybrid formula that will define the next era of F1.