Aston Martin left the Belgian Formula 1 GP without scoring points and is already turning its attention to the next stage of the season. After a difficult weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, the team is betting on the introduction of a new update package at the Hungarian GP to try to react.
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Fernando Alonso crossed the finish line only in 19th position, while Lance Stroll retired from the race after his car presented a problem. The performance confirmed the team’s expectations, which already anticipated difficulties on the Belgian circuit.
Alonso highlighted that Aston Martin’s main goal was to use the event to gather important information. According to the Spaniard, the learning obtained throughout the weekend could be fundamental for the development of the AMR26 in the upcoming races.
“We did our best today, but we knew our limitations this weekend. We collected valuable data for the team and now we are focused on Budapest,” said the two-time world champion.
The Spaniard also emphasized the importance of track activities in Hungary, where the team intends to debut a new set of updates: “We will need to maximize all our free practice sessions next weekend and learn as much as possible about the new package,” he added.
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Stroll, in turn, stated that the pace shown was within expectations for the characteristics of Spa-Francorchamps. The Canadian reported that he began to feel a problem with the gearbox in the final laps, which led the team to opt for retirement to investigate the source of the failure.
“We knew this track would always be very difficult for us, and it was a tough race from the start. I hope we can be a bit more competitive in Hungary and have a stronger weekend,” concluded the Canadian.
Aston Martin’s track chief, Mike Krack, acknowledged the difficulties faced by the team: “It was not an easy afternoon and we did not have the pace to compete. We tried to maximize everything under our control, being strong operationally and executing the best possible strategy. Now, our focus is on Budapest and the introduction of a new package for the AMR26,” he added.
