Hungary: Alonso reacts to Aston Martin upgrades after first race
Aston Martin’s Upgraded Performance in Hungary
Fernando Alonso has expressed a positive outlook following Aston Martin’s first race with an upgraded AMR26 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spanish driver hopes that the team can achieve a “new start of the championship” in the latter half of the season, building on a more competitive showing. The upgrade package for the AMR26 demonstrated potential during the initial two days of action at the Hungaroring, with Alonso reaching Q3 in Qualifying for the first time this campaign.
This improved performance continued into Sunday’s race. Lance Stroll finished in P13, marking his season-best result, while Alonso crossed the line in P14. Both drivers finished ahead of an Alpine car and both Haas and Williams cars. Alonso noted that it felt good to regain competitiveness, particularly in the early stages of the race, where the team had the pace to keep up with the midfield. He views this as a solid foundation for working with the new car.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer, confirmed that the pace gain observed in Hungary aligned with the team’s expectations. The primary objective was to return to competitive racing, a goal he believes was achieved with the upgrade package. He emphasized the need to continue with further improvements.
Upcoming Developments and Engine Upgrades
The season is now entering its summer break, but Aston Martin has further developments planned for when the campaign resumes. These include additional chassis updates and an upgraded power unit expected at the Dutch Grand Prix in August. Alonso highlighted the importance of the engine upgrade, particularly for improving straight-line speed, which is crucial for competing in the current racing environment.
Honda’s new Formula 1 engine for Aston Martin is scheduled to make its track debut during a filming day in Hungary on Wednesday. Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, confirmed that this filming day would be used to test the engine upgrade. Teams are limited to 200km of running during filming days and must use special ‘demonstration’ tyres.
Orihara stressed the significance of introducing the new power unit in Zandvoort, especially now that the chassis is performing well. He believes the power unit should contribute to improved lap times. The team and engine supplier acknowledged that engine vibrations, which had been an issue earlier in the season, appeared to return on Friday in Hungary. However, they clarified these were not the same vibrations experienced at the start of the season.
Alonso stated that these vibrations were “fixed completely” after a new engine was installed for the remainder of the weekend from Saturday. He suggested that the issue might have been related to an older power unit nearing the end of its operational life. Both Alonso and Orihara underscored the collaborative effort between Aston Martin and Honda to address weaknesses and build confidence in their respective contributions.
Team Collaboration and Future Outlook
The collaboration between Aston Martin and Honda is seen as crucial for future progress. Alonso emphasized that they operate as “one team,” working together to overcome challenges. He noted that Honda had previously assisted in addressing car weaknesses at the beginning of the year, and now, with chassis improvements, Aston Martin aims to support Honda.
Stroll also expressed encouragement regarding the car’s performance ahead of the planned updates. He observed that the team was competing within the midfield for the first time this year, indicating a significant step forward. He stressed the importance of continuing to push for further improvements.
The team acknowledges that there is a considerable journey ahead, but the recent progress has instilled confidence in both factories. This mutual trust and confidence are considered more important than anything else for the coming months, as they prepare for further chassis updates and the introduction of the upgraded power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
Source: formula1.com
