Aston Martin Cuts Barcelona Test Week Short, Still Participating

In principle, Aston Martin will only test for two days in Barcelona instead of the full three that other teams are using. The team confirmed this schedule change to GPblog in a brief statement.

“The AMR26 will be in Barcelona later this week for testing. We plan to run on Thursday and Friday,” the team said.

This shorter testing schedule is a clear sign something’s gone wrong. Teams normally maximize every available testing day before the season starts.

What exactly caused Aston Martin to skip a full day? Nobody knows yet.

Rumors had been swirling that Aston Martin might skip the Barcelona test entirely. These testing sessions, which began today, are crucial preparation time for teams heading into the new season.

It seems Adrian Newey’s team has helped Aston Martin avoid a complete no-show scenario.

Williams hasn’t been so lucky. The Grove-based team will miss the entire Barcelona test event.

The testing limitations could put both teams at a disadvantage compared to rivals who’ll get the full testing program completed before the season begins in earnest.