Aston Martin has debuted its long-awaited B-spec AMR26 car at the Hungarian Grand Prix, featuring what the team describes as a "significant aerodynamic upgrade" aimed at rescuing a difficult 2026 season.
The car, dubbed AMR26B, was spotted in the Budapest paddock on Thursday as mechanics prepared it for its track debut during Friday practice at the Hungaroring. The Silverstone-based outfit has brought the upgrade package to the final round before F1's summer break in the hope of elevating itself from the back of the grid.
Team principal Mike Krack confirmed the scale of the redesign was such that the team had to submit a revised chassis for a fresh FIA crash test. "Yeah, I think it's quite extensive," he told media in Budapest.
Despite the significance of the upgrade, Aston Martin has moved to downplay expectations. Krack insisted it will not be a "make-or-break" moment for the team's season.
"It will not be a make-or-break," Krack said. "I think we are all realistic. We had a plan and we worked to that plan, and success and setbacks are part of sport. We have been in a difficult situation before, and we try to get out of it, but there's more steps needed, and this is part of the development strategy."
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will have the same-spec car available in Hungary as the team looks to bounce back after falling well below expectations this season.
Fernando Alonso echoed the cautious stance during Thursday's FIA press conference. "I don't think that it changes anything to the approach that we had so far this year. We go to every race trying to maximise what we have in [our] hands," the two-time world champion said.
Alonso described the upgrade as "the first step into those fixes, but there are more to come." He warned that no single package can transform a car overnight, pointing to the 2.1-second gap Aston Martin faced at Spa-Francorchamps: "There is no package in the world that will give you that amount of time."
Krack acknowledged that the team does not expect to unlock the full potential right away. "When you bring substantial upgrades, it's something that the track team will have to learn as quick as possible," he explained. "We do not expect that we get everything out of it in the first run tomorrow. We need to learn how to manage this and how to get the best out of it."
The Hungarian GP this weekend will provide the first real indication of whether the AMR26B can move Aston Martin back into contention ahead of the summer break.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1101558/1/first-look-aston-martins-upgraded-f1-car-fernando-alonso-weighs-ahead-hungarian
- https://www.crash.net/f1/news/1101556/1/make-or-break-aston-martins-first-words-major-f1-upgrade-hungarian-gp
