Aston Martin introduced its B-spec car at the Hungaroring, with team boss Adrian Newey addressing the media following its debut in Free Practice 1 (FP1). The session saw Lance Stroll experience a mechanical failure, which the team suspects was a suspension issue, less than 40 minutes into the AMR26’s first outing. Despite this setback, teammate Fernando Alonso demonstrated promising pace in the sister car.
Newey clarified that the area of the car involved in Stroll’s failure had not been altered as part of the upgrade, making the incident unexpected. He noted that the team is currently short on spare parts due to differences in cladding, which necessitates careful management of the new components. Understanding the cause of the failure is a priority before further comments can be made.
Upgrade Plans and Honda Concerns
The introduction of the B-spec car marks the first phase of a planned chassis overhaul for Aston Martin. Newey indicated that further steps in the upgrade package are anticipated, with a second part scheduled to arrive at Zandvoort after the summer break. This will coincide with Honda‘s sole engine upgrade. A third phase of the chassis upgrade is also planned for either Monza or Baku in September.
Newey described the provisional results of the initial upgrade as promising, despite the team’s limited availability of spare parts. He acknowledged that while the upgrade represents a significant step forward, it is not expected to make the car the quickest on the grid immediately. The team’s immediate goal is to achieve a level of respectability and then continue to progress.
During FP1, oscillations were observed on both drivers’ onboard cameras, suggesting a return of Honda engine-related vibrations that the team encountered earlier in the year. Newey confirmed that Honda is aware of these vibrations, visible in the data, and is actively working on a solution. Additionally, Alonso received radio messages to avoid kerbs during his push laps, which Newey explained was to ensure accurate aero data acquisition, not due to an issue with the upgrade itself.
The car’s modifications are extensive, with only the front suspension, engine, and gearbox remaining unchanged from the previous race in Belgium. The chassis itself has undergone significant weight reduction, necessitating a full re-homologation process and mandatory crash tests by the FIA to ensure safety.
Performance and Driver Future
Prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix, Aston Martin had been, on average, 4.670% off the pace. In FP1, Alonso‘s best time placed him 3.123% off the leading pace. While the first sector was the slowest among all teams, the second and third sectors showed improvement, ranking seventh best. This upgrade’s performance is considered crucial for Aston Martin in convincing Alonso to continue with the team for 2027.
Newey expressed confidence in Alonso‘s contributions to the team, highlighting his feedback and ability as a driver. He believes that Alonso is enjoying his time with the team and anticipates a continued relationship. The team’s initial races of the season were described as a “nightmare” by Newey, who hopes the new package will help them achieve a more respectable standing.
In other FP1 news, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished fastest, setting a 1m 19.075s, before his session ended early due to a mechanical issue in the pit lane entry. Max Verstappen of Red Bull was second, followed by Lewis Hamilton. Lance Stroll‘s incident occurred with just over 20 minutes remaining in the session, leading to a red flag.
The session resumed with 17 minutes left, allowing teams to continue with qualifying simulations. Leclerc‘s fastest time put him half a second clear of Verstappen. The Hungarian Grand Prix circuit is set to host its 40th event this weekend.
Source: the-race.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
