Why Aston Martin are ‘counting the days’ to Hungary upgrades

Aston Martin is set to introduce a major, comprehensive upgrade package for the AMR26 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking a pivotal moment after a disappointing first half of the 2026 season. After struggling significantly, with Fernando Alonso scoring only a single point thus far, team principal Adrian Newey has opted for a radical mid-season overhaul rather than incremental updates to salvage their campaign. Fernando Alonso acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the team's project, including Newey’s arrival and the partnership with Honda, noting that initial performance failed to meet those goals. Despite the difficulties, Alonso remains optimistic that the Budapest updates will serve as the first step toward a competitive recovery. Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack emphasized that the team's primary focus is to return to genuine racing contention. While acknowledging the challenges faced during this development drought, Krack highlighted that the struggle has strengthened the bond and collaborative resilience between Aston Martin and their power unit partner, Honda. The team aims to gauge the effectiveness of the new chassis this weekend before further improvements arrive with an upgraded Honda engine at Zandvoort.