Fernando Alonso praised the latest development package for his Aston Martin, describing the car’s behaviour as "much better" after the team introduced a substantial upgrade during the Friday practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British‑based outfit had entered the 2024 season hoping that the brand‑new set of technical regulations would provide a chance to break into Formula 1’s traditional "big four" and contend for championships. Instead, the campaign has been plagued by a severely under‑performing Honda power unit and a chassis that, despite being overseen by legendary designer Adrian Newey, has struggled to meet the lofty expectations set at the start of the year. While rivals have rolled out a series of incremental upgrades throughout the season, Aston Martin waited until the eleventh round in Budapest to unveil a single, comprehensive package consisting of sixteen new components.
The timing proved dramatic: during the opening practice session, Lance Stroll’s car suffered a left‑rear suspension failure that forced him out of the second practice period, yet Alonso managed a relatively smooth day and left the track feeling optimistic. "It was much better," Alonso said after his laps. "The car felt more glued to the ground and easier to drive, especially when you can control the grip in the corners.
It’s a more predictable and manageable machine, but we still have a long way to go. Obviously this is only the first step." The chassis overhaul arrives just ahead of Honda’s scheduled delivery of a major engine upgrade, expected to debut at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break. Alonso acknowledged the dual‑fronted challenge, noting that the team must extract performance not only from the new aerodynamic and mechanical parts but also from the forthcoming power‑unit improvements. "Zandvoort will be a good test for us with the new engine," he added.
"Step by step, but definitely in the right direction. It looks better, for sure, and it matches what we hoped the package would achieve on track. That correlation is exactly what we need for next year’s project, so the atmosphere in the team is now more positive." In the second practice session, Alonso’s 19th‑place time appeared modest, especially as he was sandwiched between the two 2026‑year newcomers from Cadillac.
However, a lap that could have been significantly quicker was invalidated due to a breach of track limits. Combined with traffic and a red‑flag interruption caused by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto crashing, the session left Alonso hopeful that more pace could be found on Saturday. "The red flag and the traffic made it tricky to maximise a lap," he explained. "There may be a little more to come from our side, but perhaps it’s the same for everyone, so let’s see tomorrow.
We concentrated on testing the new parts and understanding the setup direction, which could be very different from what we ran at the last few events, so I think there’s more potential to unlock tonight and into tomorrow’s qualifying." Newey, who joined Aston Martin from Red Bull in March 2025 as the sport’s most decorated designer, admitted his short‑term goal is simply to bring the team back to a level of "respectability." Speaking at a press conference between Friday’s sessions, he said: "The first races have been a complete nightmare. Hopefully we can get at least a point and some respectability now. That’s the immediate aim. From there we can try to keep moving forward." The press conference took place just before Stroll was ruled out of the second practice session because the team could not repair his car in time.
The left‑rear suspension failure that had forced his early exit was not due to a brand‑new component; rather, the part that broke was an older piece surrounded by the fresh upgrades, creating an unexpected failure mode. Newey explained: "The area involved was actually not changed.
We are short on spares because the cladding and other surrounding parts are different, so there are some minor changes in that area. In that sense, it was very unexpected." Both Newey and the engineering crew are now focused on diagnosing the exact cause of the failure, with Newey stating that everyone is "feverishly trying to understand exactly what went wrong as we speak." He added that once the root cause is identified, the team can decide on the next steps.
Looking ahead, the schedule for the weekend includes a full slate of support series and the main Grand Prix sessions, all broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Fans can stream the action via NOW without a contract and cancel at any time. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises a crucial test for Aston Martin as they aim to translate the promise of their new upgrade package into tangible points, while Newey’s ambition of restoring the team’s reputation hangs in the balance. The combination of a refreshed chassis, an impending Honda engine upgrade, and the relentless pursuit of performance may finally allow the team to shed the label of under‑achievers and re‑establish themselves as a competitive force in Formula 1.