Alonso optimistic after Aston Martin’s upgraded car debut in Hungary
Fernando Alonso has expressed optimism following Aston Martin’s first race with an upgraded AMR26 car at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spanish driver hopes the team can achieve a “new start of the championship” in the second half of the season, after a more competitive performance at the Hungaroring.
The updated package for the AMR26 showed promising signs during the initial two days of action, with Alonso reaching Q3 in Qualifying for the first time this campaign. This improved performance continued into the race, where Lance Stroll finished in P13, marking his season-best result, ahead of Alonso in P14.
Initial Impressions and Rival Reactions
Alonso commented on the car’s competitiveness, particularly in the early stages of the race, stating that the team had the pace to keep up with the midfield. He views this as a positive baseline for working with the new car. The upgrade has also drawn attention from rival teams.
Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas admitted concern that Aston Martin’s upgrade could make his team the slowest, having heard rumours of a two-second improvement. After qualifying 21st, over seven tenths behind Alonso in Q1, Bottas suggested the rumoured gain was not far off. Williams’ Carlos Sainz, whose car was half a second slower than Alonso’s Aston Martin, expressed his impression of the margin Aston Martin had achieved.
Alex Albon of Williams described the step as “eye-opening” and believes his team’s upcoming major upgrade at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September will not replicate such a gain. He stated that Williams could only dream of an upgrade of that magnitude. Haas’ Ollie Bearman, who was knocked out of Q1 for the first time since Monaco, found it “really painful” to be competing with and losing to the AMR26.
Esteban Ocon called Aston Martin’s upgrade “quite impressive” and acknowledged them as a threat. Alonso was pleased that the upgrade delivered as expected, without any “nasty surprise.” He noted that the team is still learning about the package and that there is more potential to unlock in the car.
Future Upgrades and Challenges
The season is now entering its summer break, but Aston Martin has further developments planned. These include additional chassis updates and an upgraded power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix in August. Alonso highlighted the importance of the engine upgrade for improving straight-line speed, which he sees as crucial for the team’s competitiveness.
Stroll also found encouragement in the car’s performance ahead of the planned updates. He noted that the team was in the mix with the midfield for the first time this year and emphasised the need to continue pushing. He also mentioned that the team is missing a lot on engine power, despite improved grip levels.
The team plans another chassis upgrade for the first race after the summer break at Zandvoort, coinciding with Honda’s engine upgrade. A further chassis upgrade is scheduled for Baku a month later. Some drivers, including Bearman and Bottas, have suggested that the Hungaroring, with its shorter straights, might be particularly suited to Aston Martin’s current car, and that performance on tracks with longer straights could present a challenge.
Despite these caveats, there is a consensus that Aston Martin has delivered an upgrade that has made an impact on the midfield. Alonso believes the biggest change of the weekend is that the factory now knows exactly what they are looking for and the targets for the next package and the following year.
Stroll was knocked out of Q1 in 20th, half a second behind Alonso, after missing track time on Friday due to a suspension failure in FP1. He believed Q2 was possible without a tailwind at Turn 12, which affected the car’s handling.
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Source: formula1.com
