Fernando Alonso has stated that “no package in the world” can amend the deficit that Aston Martin currently presents compared to the rest of the Formula 1 grid. This time, the Brit will integrate a B-spec chassis at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Silverstone team has had a complicated start to the 2026 season. Although the point earned by Alonso at the Monaco GP has allowed them to move ahead of Cadillac, Aston Martin remains the slowest team on the grid.
In the last race held at Spa, Alonso and his teammate Lance Stroll qualified in the last row, finishing with a gap of two seconds to the next fastest driver. This situation contrasts with the competition, which has introduced improvements while the British team had to resolve deeper issues with its AMR26.
Improvements and expectations
The Hungarian Grand Prix will mark the arrival of a radically different chassis, focused on improving aerodynamics and reducing weight, ahead of the power unit update scheduled for the Zandvoort GP in August. Nonetheless, opinions on the impact of these improvements vary in the paddock.
Despite the expectations of some drivers, such as Sergio Pérez from Cadillac, regarding the new chassis, Alonso remains skeptical. He states that he does not expect significant changes in numbers or positions. “In the last five GPs, we have had a gap much greater with the moderately competitive teams,” he declared.
Training campus
Aston Martin’s track director, Mike Krack, emphasized the importance of managing the updates. “Bringing substantial improvements requires the analyst team to learn quickly. We don’t have winter testing to adjust setups,” he commented.
The pressure lies on the quality of their data tricks and the understanding of simulations, highlighting that full potential from this new configuration is not expected to be extracted on the first attempt. Their priority is to adapt and draw conclusions that help them improve in upcoming races.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
