Aston Martin sets modern-era DNF recors after Azerbaijan double retirement
The 2026 Formula 1 season has continued to be a nightmare for Aston Martin, as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix delivered yet another catastrophic outing. The race saw a devastating double DNF for the team, with Lance Strollâs retirement on Lap Nine followed shortly by Fernando Alonso. This failure is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a campaign that has become an unmitigated disaster.
A Modern-Era Record of Failure
With this latest double retirement, Aston Martin has officially set a grim new benchmark in the modern era of Formula 1. The Honda-powered squad has now recorded 17 failures to finish this season. This tally surpasses the notorious reliability struggles seen during the McLaren-Honda partnership in 2015 and 2017, which recorded 14 and 15 DNFs, respectively.
The sheer volume of mechanical issues has left the team facing massive questions regarding the stability of their current package. For Fernando Alonso, the lack of consistency is deeply frustrating, but the brunt of the technical chaos has fallen heavily on Lance Stroll.
Strollâs Struggles and the Impact of the AMR26
The statistics for Lance Stroll this season are nothing short of horrendous. Following the Azerbaijan retirement, Stroll has now recorded 11 non-finishes from just 15 race entries. His 2026 campaign has been defined by a relentless cycle of retirements, with the only exceptions being minor points-scoring opportunities or low-ranking finishes.
While critics often label Stroll as one of the grid's weaker performers, his results this year are a direct reflection of a car that simply refuses to reach the finish line. The Honda-powered Aston Martin struggles have fundamentally compromised his ability to demonstrate true race pace.
Between Stroll and Alonso, the team has managed a mere three points all season, with Alonso being the sole provider of those results. As the championship moves forward, Aston Martin must find a way to resolve these reliability issues, or they risk seeing this record of non-finishes stand for years to come.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.