Hungarian GP 2026: Aston Martin upgrade shows pace

Aston Martin’s revised AMR26 made an encouraging start in Hungary, with Fernando Alonso upbeat and multiple outlets reporting a clear step forward.

Aston Martin’s revised AMR26 made an encouraging first impression at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. Formula1.com reported that Aston Martin and McLaren both showed a clear gain in competitiveness in Budapest, while BBC Sport reported that Fernando Alonso was optimistic about the major upgrade introduced for the weekend. Aston Martin arrived in Hungary with Alonso 19th in the drivers' championship on one point and Lance Stroll 20th on none.

Autosport reported that Alonso called the qualifying result an important boost after his first Q2 appearance in grand prix qualifying of the 2026 season, and also said the team was pleased with the early performance of the updated car. The same outlet reported that Adrian Newey viewed the Hungary package as the first part of the AMR26’s development, not the final step.

Running was less complete on Stroll’s side of the garage. Autosport reported a suspected suspension failure in first practice and said the team could not repair the car in time for second practice. That left Alonso, the 32-time Grand Prix winner, as Aston Martin’s main reference as the team evaluated the new package.