Alonso reflects on Aston Martin’s upgraded car performance in Hungary
Fernando Alonso has expressed a positive outlook following Aston Martin’s first race with an upgraded car at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spanish driver hopes this marks a “new start of the championship” for the team in the latter part of the season, after a more competitive showing in Hungary.
The updated AMR26 demonstrated potential during the initial days of the event at the Hungaroring, with Alonso reaching Q3 in qualifying for the first time this campaign. This improved performance carried into the race, where Lance Stroll finished in 13th position, achieving his season-best result, followed by Alonso in 14th.
Alonso noted that it was beneficial to experience competitiveness again, particularly in the early stages of the race, where the team maintained pace with the midfield. He views this as a solid foundation for further development with the new car.
Engine Upgrades and Future Plans
While the season is now entering its summer break, Aston Martin anticipates further enhancements upon its resumption. These include additional chassis updates and an upgraded power unit, which is expected to debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Alonso highlighted the significance of the engine upgrade, stating that the team is looking forward to Zandvoort to improve straight-line speed. He emphasised the need for this extra speed to remain competitive in the current racing environment, suggesting it could initiate a new phase for the team in the second half of the championship.
Stroll also shared an encouraging view of the car’s performance, particularly with upcoming updates in mind. He mentioned that the team was competing within the midfield for the first time this year, indicating a significant step forward over the weekend.
Honda’s new Formula 1 engine for Aston Martin is scheduled for its track debut during a filming day in Hungary on Wednesday. This filming day, which limits teams to 200km of running on special demonstration tyres, will serve as an opportunity to assess the new engine’s performance with the chassis.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, confirmed that this filming day would be used to test the engine upgrade that Aston Martin is relying on for continued progress. He stressed the importance of introducing the new power unit in Zandvoort, especially now that the chassis is performing well, expecting it to contribute to lap time improvements.
Team Collaboration and Progress
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer, stated that the pace gain observed in Hungary aligned with the team’s expectations. He noted that the primary objective was to return to competitive racing, which he believes was achieved with the upgrade package, and that the team now needs to implement the next steps.
Orihara concurred, highlighting that all improvements are crucial for catching up to other teams, now that Aston Martin is back in contention. He also acknowledged that engine vibrations, which had been an issue earlier in the season, seemed to reappear on Friday in Hungary, though both the team and engine supplier clarified these were different from the initial problems.
Alonso confirmed that these vibrations were “fixed completely” after a new engine was installed for the remainder of the weekend from Saturday, suggesting the previous power unit might have been nearing the end of its operational life. He also addressed the importance of Honda’s improvements given the chassis gains, emphasising the collaborative effort within the team.
Alonso stated that Aston Martin and Honda operate as one team, working together to address their respective weaknesses. He explained that Honda initially assisted with the car’s weaknesses, and now, with the improved chassis, the team aims to support Honda. He views this as a crucial first step, fostering confidence and trust between both factories for the coming months.
The team’s focus remains on continuous improvement, with Stroll reinforcing the need to keep pushing forward after the significant step taken during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
Source: formula1.com
