McLaren and Aston Martin struggle at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix proved difficult for major teams McLaren and Aston Martin. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both failed to score points. Piastri, who held second place for much of the race, suffered a significant lock-up at Turn 1 following a safety car restart, dropping him to the back of the field. Norris was forced to retire after being caught in a collision involving two Alpine cars.

Aston Martin also faced a disappointing weekend with both drivers retiring. Fernando Alonso abandoned his race after experiencing a sudden loss of straight-line speed, which he suspected was a power unit issue. However, Honda engineers stated that their data showed no anomalies in the engine. Lance Stroll also retired earlier in the race due to suspected water pressure issues. Despite the poor results, Aston Martin performance chief Mike Krack maintained that the team's recent aerodynamic upgrades are functioning as intended.