Aston Martin’s Upgrade Package
Aston Martin is introducing a significant upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, featuring a heavily revised car with reduced weight, including a new chassis, and substantial aerodynamic changes. This marks the team’s first major upgrade of the year, following a season start where their car and engine performance were below expectations. The team opted to introduce these new parts all at once, rather than through smaller, incremental upgrades over several races, a decision made to efficiently utilise their budget within the sport’s spending cap. This approach, however, has seen Aston Martin fall further behind the field in recent races.
Fernando Alonso expressed optimism about the upgrades but cautioned against high expectations. He stated that Budapest is a circuit that suits the team, as power is not the most critical factor there. Alonso is focused on understanding the car’s new direction and whether the team can unlock its performance. He noted that the team’s natural position in the standings would not change immediately despite the significant update.
Adrian Newey, Aston Martin‘s chief technical officer, explained that the team made a difficult but necessary decision to forgo developments in the first half of the year. This allowed them to reorganise, implement new systems, and conduct thorough research for future car designs, particularly for the 2026 car. The upgrade package for Hungary is considered the first stage of this new development strategy, with a second stage planned for Zandvoort.
Performance Challenges and Driver Outlook
The past two circuits, Silverstone and Spa, proved particularly challenging for Aston Martin due to the performance limitations of their Honda engine. Even at the Spanish Grand Prix, a more corner-dependent track, the team was significantly off the pace. Alonso is therefore reluctant to offer a judgment on the team’s potential performance this weekend, emphasising that he is not focused on specific numbers or positions.
Alonso, who will be 45 on 29 July, is currently out of contract at the end of the season and is considering his future in Formula 1. He has reiterated his long-term commitment to Aston Martin, regardless of his decision to continue racing in F1. However, his decision will not be based solely on the performance of the new upgrades. He is also evaluating whether the high levels of energy management required by the latest generation of F1 engines provide him with sufficient enjoyment as a driver. This issue is more pronounced on high-speed circuits like Spa and Silverstone, but less so at the slower Hungarian circuit, where engine management is expected to be less critical.
Newey acknowledged the challenging start to the season, citing issues on both the chassis and power unit sides. He admitted that the team likely placed too much expectation on themselves and started serious work on the 2026 car later than rivals, leading to a significant gap. Newey also highlighted reliance on outdated tools and processes, some dating back to the early days of the former Jordan F1 operation. He views this difficult period as an opportunity to overhaul their working methods.
Expectations for the Hungarian Grand Prix
The upgrade package for Hungary includes weight reduction in the chassis and gearbox architecture, a new nose, and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces. While the core structure remains similar, the focus is on a large aerodynamic package combined with significant weight reduction, aiming to bring the car closer to the weight limit. Newey anticipates a substantial improvement but refrained from providing specific performance numbers.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin‘s Chief Trackside Officer, stated that the most important goal for the team is to return to competitive racing, as they have struggled to keep up with the midfield in recent events. He expressed optimism for the future, noting that the period without upgrades is now over. Honda is also planning to introduce a new engine at the Dutch Grand Prix, the first race after the summer break, further contributing to the team’s development efforts. Honda‘s Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer, Shintaro Orihara, noted that the challenging moments in winter testing helped build a stronger working relationship between Aston Martin and Honda.
Alonso believes that Newey will eventually deliver a top-tier car and that Honda will resolve its power unit issues. He seeks enjoyment and adrenaline from his racing, which he felt was lacking at Silverstone and Spa. His decision regarding his future will consider whether F1 continues to provide the necessary adrenaline. The team’s reserve driver, Jak Crawford, has been instrumental in the development push, contributing through simulator work and real-life runs, having already sampled the upgraded AMR26.
Lance Stroll, Alonso‘s teammate, also expressed frustration with the car’s current uncompetitive state, noting that there are no strengths to the current package. He deliberately pushed the car to its limits at Silverstone to highlight its poor performance to the team. The Aston Martin-Honda team faces significant pressure to improve, with the single engine update from Honda for Zandvoort being a crucial next step.
The Aston Martin team is counting the days until the Hungarian Grand Prix to see the impact of their new package.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
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Charlie Bradshaw is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with ten years of reporting experience. He covered Merseyside football before going national. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Liverpool John Moores University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Liverpool, he watches non-league sides and collects old match programmes. “The back page is only ever half the story.”