Aston Martin has introduced a significant upgrade package for their AMR26 Formula 1 car, unveiled at the Hungarian Grand Prix, along with a new Honda engine specification tested during a filming day on July 29.
The upgrades, led by chief designer Adrian Newey, include 16 updates aimed at improving performance after a difficult start to the 2026 season.
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Drivers Express Cautious Optimism
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll showed modest optimism despite still trailing the midfield. Alonso finished 14th in Hungary, one position behind Stroll.
Alonso described the upgraded car as "a good step forward" and noted it sets a new baseline for development.
"The data correlation is positive, and the performance gains align with our expectations," he said.
He added that the AMR26 is a completely new vehicle with a different technical concept, leaving room for improvement in setup and optimization.
Honda Promises Further Gains
Honda's chief track engineer, Shintaro Orihara, warned competitors that more pace is expected. "We'll gain lap time, that's for sure," he said, highlighting ongoing efforts to boost competitiveness.
After struggling with battery vibration issues early in the season, Aston Martin hopes the new power unit, updated under ADUO rules, will close the performance gap.
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Orihara explained that detailed power unit integration work was done in Hungary.
"We were also able to gather crucial data that will help us arrive well-prepared for the next race," he said.
He confirmed the new engine specification will debut in the Netherlands.
"Now, we take an important step by introducing the new power unit specification in the Netherlands," Orihara added.
The engine was first run on the AMR26 during the filming day, providing valuable data ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
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Formula 1 returns from its summer break for the Dutch GP at Zandvoort from August 21 to 23, where Aston Martin aims to measure progress with its new upgrades.
