Aston Martin unveiled sixteen upgrades in Hungary to secure two places outside the points. Put that way, the result seems almost cruel. Yet, after six months spent languishing at the back of the grid, seeing Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finish 13th and 14th already feels like a minor revolution. Adrian Newey now promises a new phase at Zandvoort, where Honda must finally provide the essential complement: a slightly less strained engine.
Aston Martin: Sixteen new features to regain the right to participate
Aston Martin did not simply bring an evolution to the Hungaroring. The team practically presented a B version of its AMR26, with sixteen modifications listed in the technical documents of the FIA.
New nose, completely redesigned flat bottom, reworked pontoon inlets, modifications to the rear, weight reduction and slight evolution of the rear suspension: Newey And its engineers didn't fix a few details. They tried to urgently repair a single-seater whose launch had been as visually spectacular as it was disappointing in terms of time.
Because the AMR26 had achieved a rather peculiar feat: attracting all eyes during winter testing before almost completely disappearing from the screens once the stopwatches were turned on.
At Spa, one week before Hungary, Alonso et Stroll had been relegated to more than four seconds off the benchmark in Q1. Alonso had then finished the race two laps behind the winner. Aston Martin was no longer just at the bottom of the grid: she seemed to be participating in a parallel category.
The Hungarian revolution, however, only reached 13th place.
The new parts immediately produced progress, but one should resist the urge to turn the final 13th and 14th places into a historic one-two finish.
Contrary to what the original text states, the two Aston Martin did not make it through Q1. Alonso reached Q2 for the first time this season before finishing 16th, while StrollDeprived of a large part of the tests after a suspension failure, only managed the 20th fastest time.
Race, Stroll finished 13th ahead Alonso14th. The Aston Martin notably outpaced the two Haas, both Williams and total AlpineThis still doesn't earn any points, but the team has at least rejoined the pack after spending several Grands Prix watching it pull away.
mike krack thus believes that the objective of "to get back in the race" "has been reached. The head of track operations acknowledges, however, that the exact hierarchy remains difficult to establish, Aston Martin still need to learn how to operate this new car.
In short, the AMR26 still isn't winning, but it stopped losing even before the lights went out. At Silverstone, they're already calling that a starting point.
Newey promises a sequel, but carefully avoids the word "miracle"
Adrian Newey He never presented the Hungarian package as a definitive solution. He described it as the first part of a larger program, with further elements expected at Zandvoort, and then further steps at Monza and Baku.
"The initial results are promising." " he acknowledged, while also recalling thatAston Martin had very few spare parts and still needed to understand precisely how the new configuration would behave.
The caution is understandable. Lance stroll lost almost all of Friday's racing after a suspected failure of its left rear suspension. For a team that came to showcase its technical revival, seeing one of the two cars spin out in the opening laps wasn't exactly the best publicity stunt.
Newey He doesn't even mention podium finishes or immediate points. His primary objective is to bring Aston Martin back to a " level of respectabilityWhen an engineer who has designed so many world championship-winning cars is now celebrating the prospect of leaving the back row, it gives a pretty good idea of the depth of the work involved.
At Zandvoort, Honda will finally have to take its share
The expected changes in the Netherlands will not only concern the chassis. Honda also plans to introduce a revised version of its power unit, currently being tested before the championship resumes.
The Japanese manufacturer must in particular improve power and eliminate vibration problems that appeared at the beginning of the season. Aston Martin acknowledges that the difficulties stem from both aerodynamics and the engine: blaming Honda alone would therefore be convenient, but a little too comfortable for a team whose first car was designed under the leadership of Newey It too was born several months behind schedule.
Alonso He is particularly looking for more straight-line speed. After Hungary, the Spaniard felt that the engine upgrade at Zandvoort could allow him to Aston Martin to better resist the mid-pack cars during acceleration phases.
La FIA This allows for these developments through the ADUO mechanism, designed for engine manufacturers whose internal combustion engine has a measured deficit compared to the best benchmark. This system offers additional development opportunities, but it only evaluates the thermal component and therefore does not constitute a complete ranking of powertrains.
In other words, Honda It grants the right to work more. Not an automated delivery of horses in the form of an express parcel.
Zandvoort will be a stepping stone, not a magical new beginning.
The Hungarian Grand Prix confirmed that the wind tunnel figures were not entirely imaginary. Aston Martin gained several tenths, overtook three teams in the weekend hierarchy and regained a real possibility of fighting on track.
But finishing 13th and 14th after changing the visible half of the car also highlights the extent of the gap. The sixteen Hungarian upgrades weren't an attempt to catch the leading teams; their primary purpose was to escape the relegation zone.
In Zandvoort, Newey will add new parts and Honda will bring its overhauled engine. Aston Martin hopes to take a second step forward, before further changes at Monza and Baku.
The team finally has a credible development trajectory. As for speed, points, and podium finishes, we'll have to wait a little longer.
🏎️ Adrian Newey, sobre el AMR26:
🗣️ “Vivimos unas primeras carreras de pesadilla.”
Pero mantiene el optimismo:
💬 “The package is promising. This is the first part.”
📈 Aston Martin will introduce new improvements in Zandvoort, Monza and Bakú #F1 #Aston Martin pic.twitter.com/EGbNMUvrwA
— laura (@lauramonteroc10) July 28, 2026