Fernando Alonso approaches the Hungarian Grand Prix with cautious optimism as Aston Martin introduces a major upgrade package. Chief technical officer Adrian Newey admitted the team bypassed early-season developments to focus on the 2026 car and long-term organization, leaving the driver and squad chasing the midfield pack after a difficult start.
Upgrades Arrive at the Hungarian Grand Prix After a Difficult Start
The past circuits at Silverstone and Spa presented severe challenges for the team due to a lack of performance from their Honda engine, the BBC reported. Even earlier at the Spanish Grand Prix—a track heavily dependent on cornering—the car sat four seconds off the pole position and lagged more than three seconds behind the Racing Bulls and Audi teams leading the midfield.
Because of these performance deficits, Alonso has resisted making predictions about where the car will finish during the weekend. I am not thinking on numbers or positions,
Alonso said, as noted by the BBC. In the last five races we have very different gaps to the midfield.
A Different Development Strategy Than Rival Teams
While competing constructors chose a conventional upgrade path by introducing incremental gains of 0.1 to 0.2 seconds across several races, Aston Martin held back its development program during the first half of the year. Alonso contrasted this approach with his competitors.
The other teams opted for a more conventional upgrade path, bringing 0.1-0.2secs every few races and then you end up with a second in race 12,
Alonso explained, according to the BBC. We didn’t do that and we try to catch up all in one go. It doesn’t change your natural position in the end.
Adrian Newey Explains the Painful Decision to Pause Early Development
Aston Martin chief technical officer Adrian Newey acknowledged that the team recognized its uncompetitiveness early on, leading to a deliberate pivot in strategy. As Adrian Newey stated at the British Grand Prix: It became quite obvious very quickly that we were not going to be competitive in the early races.
“So, we took the painful but I believe correct decision to not do any developments through the first half of the year, knowing that that would actually mean, as everybody else develops, of course, the gap to the front would actually get bigger. But, with a view to then really getting ourselves better organised, putting lots of different systems into place for the future, and then really doing our research properly, because the ’26-car was a very competitive timescale.”
Adrian Newey, chief technical officer at Aston Martin, via BBC
Newey added that the pause allowed the team to step back, relieve winter pressure, and properly diagnose their underlying problems. The upgrade package arriving at the Hungarian Grand Prix marks the first stage of this new approach, with a second stage planned for Zandvoort.
Engine Timeline and Long-Term Hopes with Aston Martin
The Honda power unit remains unchanged for the Hungarian weekend, with the Japanese manufacturer scheduled to introduce a development engine at the subsequent Dutch Grand Prix following Formula 1’s four-week summer break, the BBC noted.
After winning back-to-back world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, enduring difficult stints at McLaren and Ferrari, securing two Le Mans wins, and spending two years away from the sport, the Spaniard returned to F1 with Alpine before joining Aston Martin on a multi-year deal in 2023.
