Aston Martin expand trackside engineering structure ahead of 2026 F1 season

Aston Martin have made changes to their trackside engineering team ahead of the 2026 season, with the squad expanding the structure in order to cope with the additional demands posed by the new technical regulations.

Gary Gannon is set to step up to the role of Senior Race Engineer on Lance Stroll’s side of the garage, with Stephen Glass moving to the position of Race Engineer.

Andrew Vizard, meanwhile, will stay on as Race Engineer to Fernando Alonso, while Chris Cronin becomes Senior Race Engineer, a role he will hold alongside acting as Trackside Chief Engineer.

The restructuring comes as Aston Martin continue their preparations for the 2026 campaign, with the British outfit having been open about their early struggles during the Barcelona Shakedown and pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Away from the track, a crucial aspect of how a driver prepares for the season is in terms of their fitness. For Stroll, performance coach Henry Howe supports the Canadian driver when it comes to ensuring that he is functioning at his top level.

Speaking to Aston Martin’s official website, Howe offered an insight into how his role fits alongside the likes of the engineers and mechanics in working with Stroll to prepare him for the upcoming campaign.

“On the medical side, I manage musculoskeletal care and recovery,” Howe explains. “On the fitness side, I’m keeping Lance healthy and in race trim. Because he’s played sport his whole life, that’s pretty easy, and it’s more about me directing him towards the best stuff to do, rather than motivating him to do it.

“As a taller driver (1.84 metres), Lance has always had to be on top of his physical wellbeing to avoid giving away lap-time through weight. So it’s about constantly being on top of his diet and training rather than having to manage big swings in his weight.

“If you arrive at a race weekend not fit or healthy, it’s too late. Once we’re at the track, my job is to create an environment where Lance can focus purely on driving.”

In terms of Stroll’s pre-season regime, Howe adds: “We’re constantly exploring and searching for ways we can do things better and improve. In a sport where the only constant is change, we have to keep evolving.

“We control what we can control. We refine. We research. And then we do it all again.”