Week ending Saturday 17 January 2026

Editors Introduction, from Dan, FTP;

*The first full Weekly Roundup of 2026 lands at an interesting crossroads for Aston Martin.*

This has been a week defined less by loud announcements and more by substance: by technical reality tempering Formula 1 ambition, by endurance racing quietly building momentum, by ownership experiences reminding us what these cars truly demand, and by community moments that reinforce why Aston Martin continues to mean so much to so many.

The picture above was taken on New Years Day, just as my son and I are about to leave to join fellow Aston Martin Owners Club members, in London, as we experience being part of the New Years Day Parade. What an experience that was! The full video is out now and is available to view, just click on the picture below.

It’s a week that captures the marque in motion, evolving, questioning, and still unmistakably Aston Martin.

Aston Martin Lagonda – Share Price Context

Aston Martin Lagonda shares closed on Friday at 63.50p, ending the week up 0.20p (+0.32%). While modest on the surface, the movement continues a stabilising short-term trend that has been developing across the past month.

Compared with the previous three Fridays, the share price now sits slightly higher overall, having traded within a relatively narrow band during that period. The pattern reflects consolidation rather than momentum, suggesting a market that is watching rather than reacting, a familiar position for AML as longer-term operational execution continues to matter more than weekly headlines.

As always, this snapshot is included for **context only**, offering readers a simple reference point alongside the wider stories shaping Aston Martin week by week.

Formula 1 – Promise, Pressure, and a Line in the Sand

Formula 1 remains Aston Martin’s most scrutinised arena, and this week illustrated just how sharply optimism and realism can coexist.

Former World Champion **Damon Hill** suggested that the scale of the 2026 regulation overhaul could open the door to a genuine surprise, drawing comparisons with Brawn GP’s fairytale 2009 title win.

Hill believes Aston Martin’s long-term preparation, combined with **Adrian Newey’s** regulatory insight, positions the team as a credible candidate to interpret the new rules effectively. It’s a hopeful assessment, rooted firmly in Formula 1 history rather than hype.

Yet a more forensic analysis published by The Race offered a necessary counterbalance. At the centre of concern sits the Aston Martin–Honda power unit programme. While Honda’s recent success with Red Bull cannot be dismissed, its formal withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of 2021 means the 2026 project effectively restarted from a reduced base. In an era defined by cost caps and early conceptual advantage, time lost is rarely recovered easily.

Technical interpretation has already emerged as a battleground. Rival manufacturers are understood to have unlocked additional performance through nuanced readings of compression ratio regulations accepted by the FIA, while Honda appears to have taken a more conservative view. Add to this the challenge of battery technology, the removal of the MGU-H, and the integration of new fuel and lubricant partners, particularly Aramco, supplying Formula 1 fuel for the first time and the complexity of Aston Martin’s 2026 equation becomes clear.

Against that backdrop, Honda confirmed this week that live coverage of the official launch of its partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team will take place on 20 January 2026. This feels like a pivotal moment. After months of speculation, it will be the first opportunity for clarity, not necessarily answers to every question, but a clearer sense of structure, intent and accountability.

Sportscar & GT Racing – Valkyrie Faces Daytona

In endurance racing, Aston Martin’s Valkyrie prepares for a significant milestone as it heads to the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona for the first time.

Daytona presents a unique challenge: high-speed banking, long stints and relentless pressure on reliability and operations. Despite growing confidence within the Heart of Racing team, expectations remain grounded. Driver Ross Gunn has been clear that patience remains essential, even as progress through 2025 delivered encouraging results, including podium contention at Petit Le Mans.

With a new Michelin GTP tyre and no winter performance upgrades applied to the Valkyrie, Daytona will be as much about learning as it is about results. With only one car entered, the priority is simple and sensible: finish, gather data, and allow performance to emerge naturally.

Media & Reviews – Living with the DBX707

*evo*’s long-term test of the **Aston Martin DBX707** continues to offer one of the most honest ownership perspectives available. Accumulating mileage on motorways and late-night diversions rather than dramatic roads, the test has highlighted how the 707’s bespoke Aston Martin platform delivers cohesion and composure that deepen with familiarity.

Comfort mode can feel almost too restrained, while Sport sharpens body control without sacrificing ride quality, a reminder that the DBX707’s character is revealed through use rather than spectacle. Running costs, infotainment limitations and depreciation are discussed candidly, reinforcing a familiar truth: ownership remains an emotional decision first, and a rational one second.

Brand, Culture & Collectables

Aston Martin’s Formula 1 presence extended beyond the track this week with confirmation of a Meccano Pro x Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Car. The 1:8-scale model, inspired by the AMR25 and due for release in August 2026, targets experienced adult builders and features working steering, a functioning engine and moveable DRS.

Elsewhere, **Corgi** has opened pre-orders for a **James Bond–themed Aston Martin Valhalla model**, priced at £39.99.

For many enthusiasts, it represents the closest they’ll come to owning Aston Martin’s mid-engined supercar, a reminder that aspiration and imagination remain core to the brand’s appeal.
If you’re interested in placing an order for a lovely Aston Martin Valhalla, as shown opposite, just click on the image opposite, and we’ll take you straight there!

FTP STORY – The Safety Car That Changed Formula 1

This week, Fuel the Passion stepped directly into modern Formula 1 history.

During a visit to Aston Martin Leeds, I filmed not one, but two Aston Martin Vantage FIA Safety Cars. One has already been sold to a private collector. The other is due to be released for sale soon, and its significance is extraordinary.

FTP Picture: 2021 Abu Dhabi FIA Safety Car - Aston Martin Vantage - Stunning!

This is the actual Safety Car that led the field during the closing stages of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the most controversial title decider in modern Formula 1 history. It was this car that controlled the pack before pulling in with only a handful of corners remaining, setting up the final-lap showdown in which Lewis Hamilton lost the World Championship to Max Verstappen.

Few vehicles can be placed so precisely at the centre of a sporting moment that continues to be debated years later.

This Vantage is not merely associated with that race; it is part of the chain of events that decided a World Championship. With an asking price expected to exceed **£500,000**, it sits firmly in serious collector territory, but for the right buyer, this is not just an Aston Martin, or even an FIA Safety Car. It is ownership of a moment that altered Formula 1 history.

Alongside the main filming, I also shared a short video on the Fuel the Passion YouTube channel on Friday. It’s well worth watching to the very end, because that final moment captures something the cameras don’t always convey, just how raw and commanding the V8 soundtrack of this Safety Car really is. The growl is deep, immediate and unmistakably mechanical, a reminder of why the Vantage remains such an engaging car in its own right.

In fact, standing there and hearing it properly, it’s hard not to feel that this Safety Car delivers a more visceral and emotive sound than the current generation of Formula 1 cars themselves. It’s a perspective that only really makes sense once you’ve heard it for yourself, and that short clip does exactly that. Full Video coming soon to the Fuel the Passion YouTube Channel.

FTP Segment – Astons Kick Off 2026 in London

On Sunday, 18 January 2026, at 1200 (midday) GMT, a new Fuel the Passion film went live capturing Aston Martins taking part in London’s iconic New Year’s Day Parade. Travelling from Yorkshire to the capital, I joined fellow owners as a convoy of Astons rolled through the heart of London, watched by hundreds of thousands lining the streets.

FTP Picture: The 16 Aston Martins which joined the London New Years Parade, 2026

The highlight came at the finish, where three generations of Aston Martin Vanquish were aligned together, marking 25 years of the Vanquish name. Sharing the day with my son, and alongside fellow AMOC members, made it one of those experiences that lingers long after the road has dried.

🎥 Fuel the Passion – London New Year’s Day Parade 2026
👉 Watch here

Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC)

The Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) plays a central role in preserving the marque’s heritage and bringing owners together, both in the UK and internationally. Through local area meets, national and international events, technical support and shared knowledge, AMOC offers a welcoming and knowledgeable community for anyone passionate about Aston Martin ownership.

Whether you already own an Aston Martin, are considering one in the future, or simply want to be closer to the brand, AMOC provides a unique gateway into the wider Aston Martin world.

If you’d like to find out more about joining the Aston Martin Owners Club, you can explore membership options via the official AMOC website:
👉 https://www.amoc.org/become-a-member

FTP Ownership Log – The Headlight Lesson (Ongoing)

FTP Picture: The badly condensed and now faulty headlight, just prior to it being repaired at Aston Martin, Leeds

The headlight issue on my FTP Vantage was resolved late in 2025, in fact, around a week and a half before Christmas, with the timing very much driven by a desire to have the car fully sorted before heading south for the London New Year’s Day Parade. The full repair process was documented on video, which can be watched here:

The reason this story features again in this week’s Weekly Roundup is simple: it hasn’t ended. Since publishing the original video, I’ve continued to ask questions, not only of suppliers and specialists, but of fellow owners too. Using the Fuel the Passion YouTube community posts and various social media channels, I’ve invited owners to get in touch if they’ve experienced similar headlight issues. The response so far has been genuinely interesting, with several owners sharing experiences. I’m keen to understand how condensation issues can be avoided, and what we can do, where we can go to seek a solution if indeed you are unfortunate enough to experience what I experienced.

As a result, this has evolved from a one-off repair into a broader ownership thread that I intend to develop carefully over time. The replacement itself involved fitting a brand-new headlamp unit at Aston Martin Leeds, backed by a 12-month Aston Martin warranty, at a cost of **£3,800,** it’s a sobering figure, but one that reflects the reality of modern LED lighting systems in low-volume performance cars.

Crucially, the original headlamp has been retained hopefully for further examination (by someone at some point), and I’m currently awaiting feedback from the supplier regarding possible causes and whether any preventative measures exist. If there is anything genuinely useful, evidence-based, or practical to share, I will do so openly, either here on the Fuel the Passion website or via a future YouTube video later in the year.

As ever, the aim is not drama, but clarity, and to leave better information behind for other owners navigating the same questions.

Fuel the Passion – Editor’s Reflection

This week felt like one of those moments where all the different strands of Aston Martin life quietly intersected. From Formula 1 ambition meeting technical reality, to endurance racing building momentum one race at a time, to the very real costs and considerations of modern ownership, the stories have all shared a common theme: nothing here is superficial, and nothing exists in isolation.

What stood out most, though, was how close history can feel when you’re prepared to look for it. Standing beside a Safety Car that quite literally shaped the outcome of a Formula 1 World Championship is a powerful reminder that Aston Martin’s story isn’t just written in brochures or boardrooms, it’s written in moments, decisions, and machines that carry meaning far beyond their mechanical parts. At the same time, the headlight episode on my own Vantage has reinforced why honest ownership stories matter just as much as headline-grabbing cars. Both deserve to be recorded properly.

Looking ahead, next week will see me deep into editing the FIA Safety Car film from my recent visit to Aston Martin Leeds. That video will be released once the dealership formally advertises the car for sale, ensuring everything is shared at the right time and in the right way. It’s a piece I’m taking particular care with, because opportunities like that, to document provenance while respecting the process, don’t come along often.

And then there are the moments that remind us why we do this at all. Driving through London with fellow owners, sharing the experience with my son, and seeing Aston Martins welcomed by the public as part of a New Year celebration was a powerful counterbalance to the spreadsheets, regulations and repair invoices. It brought everything back to the same place: heritage, community, and the simple joy of being part of something that endures.

Fuel the Passion Weekly Report

Fuel the Passion Weekly Report: All Things Aston Martin