Aston Martin Racing introduced a significant upgrade package to their AMR26 car at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, with Fernando Alonso sharing his initial impressions after the Friday practice sessions. The Spanish driver noted that the updates brought the expected improvements and showed good correlation with the team’s data, marking a positive step in the car’s ongoing development.
During the first two practice sessions, Alonso finished 13th in FP1 and 19th in FP2, managing to reduce the gap to some of his midfield rivals. Despite encountering vibrations in the first session, the team was able to resolve the issue for the second outing. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll faced a setback with a suspension failure in FP1, which prevented him from participating in FP2 due to the team’s inability to repair the car in time.
Alonso highlighted that Aston Martin’s upgraded car is showing competitive cornering pace, matching the top midfield teams, although there remains work to be done on both chassis and engine performance. The team is also anticipating an upgraded power unit from Honda following the summer break, which is expected to be introduced at the Zandvoort race. Team principal Adrian Newey described the Hungarian upgrade as the initial phase, with further parts planned for upcoming rounds in Zandvoort and Baku.
Rival driver Sergio Perez also acknowledged Aston Martin’s strong pace during the Hungarian weekend, underlining the team’s competitiveness within the midfield pack. Alonso’s feedback suggests that while the upgrades have delivered encouraging progress, the team remains focused on further development to enhance both the car’s balance and power unit integration.
The vibrations Alonso experienced in FP1 were an early challenge but were addressed effectively, allowing the driver to assess the car’s performance more accurately in FP2. Stroll’s suspension failure, however, limited his track time and posed a challenge for the team’s weekend preparation.
Looking ahead, Aston Martin’s technical updates at Hungary represent a foundation for continued improvements. The planned introduction of Honda’s upgraded power unit after the summer break is expected to complement the aerodynamic and chassis developments already underway. This phased approach reflects the team’s strategy to gradually close the gap to the leading midfield competitors.
Alonso’s assessment provides insight into Aston Martin’s current position in the championship, showing a car that is evolving but still has areas requiring attention. The team’s focus on incremental upgrades and data correlation indicates a methodical approach to refining the AMR26’s performance throughout the season.
