Aston Martin's green-clad crew wore dour expressions at the Bahrain test, grappling with issues both on and off the circuit.

The team reused last year's car base for 2025, with Fernando Alonso clearly prioritising 2026 over this season's 24 races. "If you are fighting for the world championship in 2025, it is a different story," he told Spanish reporters as testing wrapped. "But if you are not, I think it doesn't change too much to be in an up and down situation. Because if that costs you something for 2026, it will be very painful."

On-track, the AMR25 underperformed in lap count, one-lap pace, and long runs. Ambassador Pedro de la Rosa admitted to Marca: "I think there were some positive comments from our drivers, but they also said there were areas where we needed to improve.

"Am I optimistic? I prefer to say that I am realistic and I think it's going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of digging to improve. I would like to see results this year, but we have to face reality, don't you agree?"

Off-track, setbacks also loom despite Adrian Newey's Monday start at Silverstone.

Enrico Cardile, slated as chief technical officer for March 3, is stalled by Ferrari's extended 'gardening leave.' "The gardening leave agreement was in place," Corriere dello Sport reported, "but in the last month everything has gone haywire again.

"We understand that Cardile's arrival alongside Newey is unlikely before July 17—a year after Ferrari announced his departure. And the owner Lawrence Stroll is furious."

"The green team had done its technical reorganisation specifying that Cardile will oversee the architecture, design and construction of the new car," the report added. "A crucial figure, therefore, is blocked at a crucial moment." body check tags ::