Coulthard predicts Aston Martin will win F1 grands prix within two years

Aston Martin’s difficult 2026 opening

Aston Martin has endured a painful first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, but former F1 driver David Coulthard believes the Silverstone-based team can become a race-winning force within the next two years.

A major upgrade introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix brought considerable lap-time gains. However, the improvement was not enough to lift the team clear of the midfield, leaving Aston Martin with only one point. That result came through Fernando Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix, in a race Coulthard described as one in which there were more penalties than drivers.

Coulthard expects a major turnaround

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard offered a blunt assessment of Aston Martin’s current position while forecasting a sharp reversal in fortunes.

“I think even Aston themselves would go ‘we want this season to be erased from the record books’,” he said.

Coulthard estimated that approximately a second of the deficit was coming from the engine, with “a couple of seconds” attributed to the car. Despite that scale of performance gap, he backed Aston Martin to be Formula 1’s biggest improving team over the next two years.

“But mark my words, they will be the biggest improving team over the next two years,” Coulthard said. “I will predict they will win grands prix in the next two years.”

Newey retains Coulthard’s confidence

Coulthard also placed significant faith in Adrian Newey, who arrived at Aston Martin ahead of the new era and has since taken on the title of team principal. Having worked extensively with the renowned designer, Coulthard argued that Newey’s racing instincts and direct approach make him the right person to repair the project.

“He’s a racer, and what he doesn’t do is corporate PR,” Coulthard said. “But because it’s Adrian, you know he’s going to get it right.”