Aston Martin achieved its best result so far in the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Dutch GP, but the team avoided treating the performance as a sign of a definitive turnaround. Mike Krack, the team’s track director, warned that the upcoming circuits could once again expose the limitations of the AMR26.
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After a difficult start in the new era of category regulations, Aston Martin brought a major update to the Hungaroring circuit, followed by new adjustments in Zandvoort. The changes helped Fernando Alonso move up from 18th on the starting grid to finish ninth, but the team understands that the result was also favored by the characteristics of the circuit.
The main problem lies with the Honda engine, which still has a significant power disadvantage. Krack explained that the performance in Zandvoort was related to the updated chassis and the circuit layout, while tracks with long straights should be more challenging for Aston Martin.
“Since Budapest, we know we are a bit stronger in the race,” said Krack. According to him, the result also depends on the length of the straights. “So, these were two races where the straights were a bit shorter. We will have tougher races ahead, but I think that’s part of the game.”
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Besides the power difference, the team still needs to fully understand the new package: “We are getting to know this package more and more,” added Krack, highlighting that the major update introduced in Hungary requires time to be properly adjusted and explored.
The same goes for Honda’s new power unit: “We need to learn how to use it, we need to learn how to optimize it, and I think that will take a few events, but it was a good step forward,” he concluded.
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