Nate Saunders Mar 4, 2026, 05:32 AM ET

Aston Martin was supposed to be starting a glorious new era in 2026, but it heads to the Australian Grand Prix set to battle over last place with upstart newbies Cadillac. It's a baffling situation for the team, which star driver Fernando Alonso dubbed "the team of the future" two years ago.

The car running the famous tinge of British racing green was among the most eagerly anticipated of the off-season, given the hype and expectation that has led to this point. Billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll has long targeted F1's 2026 rules change as the moment he turned the team that sports the famous British racing marque into a title chasing juggernaught.…