Aston Martin presented the AMR26B for the first time in the Formula 1 Hungarian GP paddock, but Fernando Alonso sought to temper the excitement surrounding the new package. The Spaniard stated that the update represents only the beginning of a larger recovery process for the team.
Read more F1: Check out the confirmed ‘rookies’ who will participate in TL1 of the Hungarian GP
The Silverstone team brought a comprehensive aerodynamic evolution to Budapest to try and react after a disappointing start to the season. The revised car was seen in the team’s garage this Thursday (23), as mechanics finalized preparations for its track debut in Friday’s TL1.
Despite the expectation created around the AMR26B, Alonso reinforced that the team’s approach remains unchanged: “I don’t think this changes anything in how we approach the season so far. We go to each race trying to maximize what we have in hand,” he stated.
“We are here to win races and fight for championships. We didn’t start the season that way and we won’t be in that position now either, because we are still in a process of understanding these regulations and finding the right path for car development,” he said.
According to Alonso, while other teams opted for small evolutions throughout the initial stages, Aston Martin chose a different strategy: “In the first races, all teams followed a more conventional path, bringing two or three tenths every two or three races. We didn’t do that, so we fell a bit behind on the grid. Now, we will try to recover everything at once,” continued the two-time F1 champion.
Read more FIA pays tribute after the passing of former Formula 3 driver at 21 years old
The Spaniard, however, made it clear that he does not expect an immediate transformation in results: “This does not change the natural position in which we finish on Sundays. I am optimistic and very proud of the team for the work done since the Bahrain tests, when we understood that we had problems and needed to correct some weaknesses of the car. This is the first step, but others will come,” he added.
Asked about the expected gain from the update, Alonso avoided making predictions. He highlighted that recent circuits, such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, exposed important limitations of the car and reminded that no update is capable of recovering more than two seconds per lap at once.
“I hope Budapest will be a friendly circuit for us. Power is not the most important factor here, and we haven’t updated the engine yet. We still have a deficit that we need to overcome. I am going into this weekend more focused on understanding the car’s direction, knowing if we are on the right track, and finding out if we have finally unlocked performance,” concluded the experienced Spanish driver.
First photos of the Aston Martin evo. New sidepod inlet with the same concept. The maximized cut under the sidepods is maintained. In the rear suspension, it seems the upper wishbone is still fixed to the wing support. #f1 pic.twitter.com/TcEWIO156v
Read more F1: Bortoleto defends drivers’ adaptation to the category’s current rules
— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) July 23, 2026
Source: X – Albert Fabrega – @AlbertFabrega
