Aston Martin is set to unveil its highly anticipated chassis upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking the team's first major push to emerge from a difficult start to the 2026 season, according to [Formula1.com](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/whats-gone-into-aston-martins-hungary-upgrade-package-and-the-most-important-goal-theyve-set-for-it.6ndz5IfETBoVpLrpXPwYEt).
Arriving in Budapest with the aim of closing the gap to the frontrunners, the Silverstone squad saw expectations rise following Adrian Newey's arrival from Red Bull and the unveiling of the AMR26 at the Barcelona Shakedown in January. The car was described as "pretty spectacular" by George Russell, but aesthetics have not translated into results: both the chassis and the new Honda power unit have fallen short of expectations. In Australia, qualifying saw the team finish ahead of only newcomers Cadillac, while chronic vibrations limited Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll's running. At Spa-Francorchamps last weekend, Alonso and Stroll were cut adrift by roughly two seconds and more than four seconds off the Q1 benchmark.
Newey, the designer behind 14 Drivers' and 12 Constructors' titles, admitted the team started at a disadvantage: work on the 2026 car did not begin seriously until mid-March 2025 and the wind-tunnel model arrived only in April, leaving months of ground to recover. He also acknowledged the team had been relying on tools and processes "patched and bodged for years", dating back to the early Jordan days.