Fernando Alonso felt encouraged by Aston Martin and its major upgrade package for this weekend’s Formula 1 Hungarian GP, even after Lance Stroll suffered problems in FP1 and did not run in FP2.
Read more F1: Check the full results of TL3 of the Hungarian GP 2026
The two-time champion managed to place himself on the edge of the top-10 in the first session of the weekend, before finishing 19th, 3s off the leader in the second session. The pace is due to the team’s major upgrade package, the first of 2026, with 16 new components on the AMR26.
Describing his first feelings with the team’s car in Hungary, Alonso said that “the feeling was good. I think, overall, we got what we expected in terms of numbers and correlation, which is obviously very encouraging for the future as well, both for next year’s car and for the updates planned for this year.”
“We still have a long way to go. Obviously, we started very far behind, but this is the first step, and we hope that other good steps will follow,” he continued.
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Asked if the vibration problem was finally in the past, the Spaniard indicated that “today we had some vibrations on the main straight, especially in FP1. I think the guys sorted that out more or less for FP2. No worries for tomorrow.”
“We need to study the data a bit more and analyze the telemetry overlays, but I don’t think there are any big surprises or any sharp disadvantages in the corners compared to the front of the midfield, which is, obviously, our first objective,” he continued.
“I think we are matching that pace in the corners, so we just need to keep working. Obviously, there are still steps to be taken regarding the chassis and also the engine. As I said, this is the first of many steps, but I believe there is a positive atmosphere in the team, as we are delivering what we expected,” he concluded.
Read more F1: McLaren leads FP3 in Hungary with Norris; Bortoleto out of top 10
