Fernando Alonso praised the recent improvements to his Aston Martin, describing the car's performance during the Hungarian Grand Prix practice sessions as "much better" than what the team had delivered up to that point. The British‑based outfit had entered the 2024 season with high hopes, viewing the newest set of technical regulations as a chance to close the gap with Formula 1's traditional powerhouses and mount a genuine championship challenge.
However, the reality has been far from the optimistic projections. A combination of a severely under‑powered Honda power unit and a chassis that has struggled to meet the lofty expectations set by chief technical officer Adrian Newey has left the team languishing near the back of the grid. While rivals have introduced a series of incremental upgrades throughout the year, Aston Martin chose to wait until the eleventh round in Budapest to unveil a comprehensive package consisting of sixteen new components.
The timing was dramatic: during the first practice session, Lance Stroll suffered a left‑rear suspension failure that forced him out of the second session, but Alonso managed to complete a relatively uneventful run and emerged from the garage with a cautiously optimistic outlook. "It was much better," Alonso told reporters. "The car felt more glued to the ground and easier to drive, to an extent, when you are in control of the grip in the corners. A more predictable and easier car, but still a long way to go for us.
Obviously, this is only the first step." The chassis upgrade arrives just ahead of a major Honda engine update that is expected to be delivered at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer hiatus. Alonso emphasized the need for progress on both fronts, noting that the upcoming race at Zandvoort will serve as a crucial test of the new power unit.
"We need to find more performance both on the chassis and on the engine. Zandvoort will be a good test for us with the new engine.
Step by step, but definitely in the direction we want," he said. He added that the package appears to be delivering the benefits the team anticipated.
"It looks better, for sure, and it's more or less what we expected. This is the most encouraging thing, that what we thought the new package would do the car actually translated into reality on track. That kind of correlation is what we need also for next year's project, so I think there is a positive atmosphere in the team now." Alonso's lap times in the second practice session placed him 19th, sandwiched between the two 2026 newcomers from Cadillac.
The result was partially compromised by a lost lap due to a track‑limits infringement, as well as traffic and a red‑flag interruption caused by Alpine's Franco Colapinto crashing. Despite these setbacks, Alonso remained hopeful that the car could extract more pace on Saturday. "I think it was tricky with the red flag and some of the traffic to maximise the lap," he explained.
"So, maybe there is a little bit more to come from our side, but maybe it's the same for everybody, so let's see tomorrow. We concentrated on testing the new parts and trying to understand the setup direction, which maybe can be very different to what we've run at the last few events, so I think there is more potential to unlock hopefully tonight and into tomorrow's qualy." Newey, who joined Aston Martin from Red Bull in March 2025 and is widely regarded as the most decorated designer in the sport's history, outlined a modest short‑term objective for the team: achieving "respectability" in the points. Speaking at a press conference between the two practice sessions, he admitted that the opening rounds had been "a complete nightmare" but expressed optimism that the team could at least secure a point and begin to rebuild its reputation.
"Hopefully, we can get at least a point and respectability now. I think that is the immediate goal.
From there, we can try to keep moving forward," Newey said. The day also saw Stroll ruled out of the second practice after mechanics were unable to repair his car in time. The left‑rear suspension failure that had caused his spin in the opening session was traced to a component that, contrary to initial belief, was not part of the new package.
Newey clarified that the broken part itself had not been altered, but it was surrounded by newly introduced elements, creating a complex failure scenario. "The area involved was actually not changed," he explained. "We are short on spares because the cladding and so forth is different, so there are some minor changes in that area. In that sense, it's very unexpected." Looking ahead, the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, including practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself, all broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and available for streaming via NOW.
Fans can also follow additional support series such as F2, F3, and the Porsche Supercup, which will provide plenty of on‑track action throughout the weekend. In summary, while Aston Martin's performance to date has fallen short of the lofty ambitions set at the start of the season, the recent upgrade package appears to be a step in the right direction.
Alonso's measured optimism, combined with Newey's realistic target of earning respectability, suggests that the team is beginning to find a foothold. The upcoming engine upgrade at Zandvoort will be a critical test of whether the progress made on the chassis can be matched by power‑unit improvements, potentially setting the stage for a more competitive second half of the season.