Fernando Alonso expressed clear satisfaction with the latest improvements to his Aston Martin, describing the car’s performance during the Hungarian Grand Prix practice sessions as "much better" than before. The British‑Spanish driver highlighted that the vehicle now feels more planted and easier to handle, especially when navigating the high‑speed corners that demand precise grip control. Aston Martin entered the 2024 season with high hopes, viewing the new set of technical regulations—introduced at the start of the year—as a chance to break the long‑standing dominance of Formula 1’s traditional "big four" (Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren).
The team’s ambition was to leverage the rule changes to close the performance gap and fight for podiums and, eventually, championships. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be far less encouraging.
The partnership with Honda produced an engine that lagged behind the competition in power and reliability, while the chassis, overseen by the legendary Adrian Newey—who joined Aston Martin from Red Bull in March 2025—failed to deliver the aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical balance expected from a Newey‑led design. Throughout the first ten rounds of the championship, rival teams rolled out multiple upgrade packages, each aiming to extract incremental gains. Aston Martin, by contrast, delayed any major changes until the eleventh round in Budapest, opting instead to introduce a single, comprehensive "mega‑package" comprising sixteen new components. This strategic choice meant that the team arrived at the Hungarian circuit with a significantly altered rear‑left suspension, a revised floor edge, new barge‑board elements, and a host of other aerodynamic tweaks designed to improve downforce and reduce drag.
The practice day was a study in contrasts. Lance Stroll’s car suffered a sudden failure of its left‑rear suspension during the opening session, forcing him to miss the second practice entirely.
The failure was later traced to a part that, while not itself a new component, was surrounded by freshly introduced elements, creating an unexpected stress concentration. Newey explained that the team was still investigating the root cause, noting that a shortage of spare parts for the updated cladding complicated the repair process. Alonso, on the other hand, managed to complete a relatively smooth run. He reported that the car felt "more glued to the ground" and that the handling was more predictable, allowing him to focus on extracting the maximum grip in the corners rather than fighting a chaotic balance.
"It’s a more predictable and easier car, but we still have a long way to go," he said, emphasizing that the upgrade represented only the first step in a longer development journey. The driver also hinted at the upcoming engine upgrade that Honda is expected to deliver at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break. "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," Alonso explained, underscoring the dual‑track approach the team must adopt to become competitive. During the second practice session, Alonso’s lap time placed him 19th on the timesheet, sandwiched between the two 2026‑year rookie cars from Cadillac. However, his true pace was likely higher, as a lap was invalidated due to a breach of track limits.
Additional factors such as traffic and a red‑flag interruption caused by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto crashing further limited his ability to set a clean, fast time. Alonso remained optimistic, suggesting that the team could still extract more speed on Saturday’s qualifying session. Adrian Newey, who holds the record for the most championship titles as a designer, addressed the media between the two practice sessions.
He described the opening races of the season as a "complete nightmare" and set a modest short‑term goal for the team: achieving "respectability" and, ideally, scoring at least one point in the upcoming race. "Hopefully we can get at least a point and respectability now. From there we can try to keep moving forward," Newey said, indicating that the primary focus was on steady, incremental progress rather than dramatic leaps. The incident with Stroll’s suspension also provided insight into the challenges of integrating a large number of new parts simultaneously.
Newey clarified that the broken component itself had not been altered, but the surrounding updates to the car’s bodywork and aerodynamic surfaces introduced unforeseen interactions. The team’s spare‑parts inventory was strained because the new cladding and related elements differed from the original specifications, making rapid replacements more difficult. Looking ahead, the Hungarian Grand Prix schedule includes a full weekend of support series—F3, F2, and the Porsche Supercup—culminating in the main race on Sunday.
Sky Sports will broadcast every session live, and fans can also stream the action via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract. In summary, the Aston Martin team appears to be turning a corner after a disappointing start to the season. The recent upgrade package has already shown tangible benefits for Alonso, who feels the car is more stable and easier to drive. While the chassis improvements are encouraging, the ultimate test will come when Honda’s upgraded power unit arrives, and when the team refines its setup for the high‑speed demands of circuits like Zandvoort.
Newey’s realistic target of "respectability" reflects a pragmatic approach: secure points, build confidence, and continue the development cycle step by step. If the positive atmosphere within the garage persists, Aston Martin could gradually climb the midfield and perhaps, in the longer term, re‑join the fight for podiums and victories.