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Aston Martin Readies Hungary Upgrade as Start of a Two‑Step Rebuild

The package is meant to start a planned recovery to fix the car's weight, aerodynamic and engine deficits over two stages.

Overview

  • Aston Martin has endured a poor start to 2026 and has scored a single point so far, leaving the AMR26 well off the pace of its rivals.
  • The team will introduce a single, large aerodynamic and weight‑reduction package at the Hungarian Grand Prix that is designed to be the first corrective step; the car is believed to be about 10–15kg overweight.
  • Technical chief Adrian Newey publicly acknowledged the team did not consult drivers enough during development and said the decision to postpone incremental upgrades was deliberate to allow a more thorough mid‑season reset.
  • Fernando Alonso has warned the Hungary upgrade cannot be the last step and called for continued development to prove the team has corrected downforce, power and gearbox weaknesses.
  • Honda has fixed early power‑unit vibration faults but still trails rivals on power and reliability and plans a power‑unit upgrade for Zandvoort after the summer break while Jenson Button cautions the changes are unlikely to deliver instant podiums and are aimed at 2027 progress.