Aston Martin claims F1 has the ‘golden opportunity’ to reduce costs in 2026

Aston Martin is pushing for standardization of gearbox in F1 from 2026.

Aston Martin claims F1 has the ‘golden opportunity’ to reduce costs in 2026

Lance Stroll [L], Mike Krack [R], (image via IMAGO)

Formula 1 is an expensive sport. F1 teams spend hundreds of millions every season to stay competitive on the grid. However, such massive costs can often hamper the finances of the competitors. Now, Aston Martin F1’s Engineering Director Luca Furbatto has claimed that the sport can reduce costs with the upcoming regulation change in 2026.

Aston Martin is currently getting prepared to develop its own gearbox in F1 after its deal with Mercedes comes to an end in 2025. The Silverstone-based team has pushed for the standardization of transmissions in F1 from 2026 in an effort to cut costs in the cost cap era. However, Furbatto mentioned that the FIA might come to a middle ground soon with less complex gearboxes. As there is massive pushback against standard gearboxes from rival teams.

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Luca Furbatto said on Aston Martin’s website, “We are facing stiff opposition. Realistically it’s not going to happen any time soon. It’s possible the FIA may reach something of a middle ground, with the design becoming a little more prescribed, lighter, and simplified.”

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The Aston Martin Director was convinced that in the future, teams would look back at this time and realize that they missed the prime opportunity to cut transmission costs in Formula 1. He stated. “I suspect we will look back in a few years and conclude that we lost a golden opportunity to reduce costs within the transmission area.” Previously, teams had blocked FIA’s attempt to standardize gearboxes in 2019

Also Read: Aston Martin F1 records a £53M loss in 2022

Aston Martin embraces itself for 2026 shake-up

2026 will be a massive year for Formula 1. New Power units will be introduced in the sport with the arrival of new manufacturers – Audi and Ford. Aston Martin would become a works team in 2026 as it joins forces with Honda. The British team has high ambitions in F1 as it tries to establish itself as a front-runner at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe and Aston Martin F1 Chairman Lawrence Stroll (image via PlanetF1)
Honda Racing Corporation President Koji Watanabe and Aston Martin F1 Chairman Lawrence Stroll (image via PlanetF1)

The new regulations are seen as the best opportunity for the Silverstone-based team to fight at the front. Aston Martin has already shifted to a new factory this year with a new wind tunnel in the making. Moreover, Canadian Billionaire Lawrence Stroll has left no stone unturned to get the brightest minds working for the Silverstone-based team.

The Aston Martin F1 team showed promise at the start of 2022 with a car that was second-fastest in the first few rounds. However, the British squad fell behind its rivals over the course of the season. Subsequently, the Silverstone-based team must fix its underlying issues at the moment if the team truly wants to fight for the world title in the future.

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