How Aston Martin’s 2026 season has played out so far

The 2026 F1 season has proven to be a difficult test for Aston Martin, with the team currently struggling near the bottom of the Constructors' Championship. After a challenging start plagued by chassis and power unit reliability issues, the team saw a glimmer of hope at the Hungarian Grand Prix with the introduction of a major upgrade package. This decision to implement sweeping changes, while initially difficult, allowed Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to finally compete with their midfield rivals. Throughout the first half of the season, Fernando Alonso has largely held the performance edge over Lance Stroll, securing the team's best finish with a 10th place in Monaco and the only Q2 appearance in Hungary. Despite the early setbacks—including limited pre-season mileage and persistent mechanical struggles—the team is now looking toward a 'new start' in the second half of the year. With further power unit updates scheduled for the Zandvoort race, the team aims to build on their newfound momentum. While the journey back to front-running form remains long, the technical progress seen in Hungary has provided a vital baseline for the squad to unlock more pace as the season resumes.