Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin is “in the mix now” after a major upgrade to its B-spec car, but now needs more engine performance from Honda to keep it going.
The Silverstone-based team presented its long-awaited radical upgrade package last weekend in Hungary, With 16 new items brought to the car.
Fernando Alonso He used it to break into Q2 for the first time in 2026, before finishing 14th in the Grand Prix behind his teammate Lance outing In the thirteenth best season.
Alonso in Hungary
© XPB Pictures
It was an important first step for the refreshed Aston which has worried some of its midfield rivals, although Alonso is now calling on Honda to provide more engine power for the second half of the season.
“I think it was good to feel competitive again,” Alonso said on television after the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“And I think, especially in the beginning, we had the pace to more or less follow the midfield.
“That was good and hopefully it’s a good baseline to work on with this new car.
“Especially in terms of the engine, we are looking forward to Zandvoort and trying to be a little more competitive in terms of speed on the straights, which in the race, we are in the mix now, we need that extra speed on the straights.
He added: “So, I hope it will be a new beginning for us in the second part of the tournament.”
Honda’s updated power unit is set to make its first outings on Wednesday at the Hungaroring on a filming day, before being introduced at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
“We will now take the important step of introducing the new-spec power unit in the Netherlands,” said Honda President Shintaro Orihara.
“Before that, during the filming day on Wednesday, we will be running the new engine in the AMR26 for the first time, before the start of the summer shutdown.”
Regarding his best result of the season, Lance Stroll added: “Yes, we were in a combination with the midfield for the first time this year, which is good.
“We just have to keep pushing. We took a big step this weekend, but we just have to keep pushing.”
Alonso finished 14th in Hungary while Stroll finished 13th
Stroll’s father and team owner, Lawrence Stroll, said the team was “very satisfied” with the upgrade package ahead of the start of last Sunday’s race.
“Obviously we’ve taken a very big step forward. One of many steps to come. So yeah, very satisfied,” he said. Sky Sports F1 Martin Brundle.
“Thank you for all the hard work all the boys and girls at the factory put in to make this happen.”
