Alonso found out about Aston's upgrade plan 'through the media'.

      "I’ll consult with the team to gather more information."

      Fernando Alonso stated that he found out through the media that he would not be driving Aston Martin’s newly-upgraded car during practice at Imola. While the technical team led by Adrian Newey is primarily focused on the 2026 project, a small aerodynamics group has developed a new floor and upper bodywork for the current underperforming car at Imola.

      "I read this morning that Lance (Stroll) will take the wheel," Alonso, who has yet to score any points this season, told Spanish reporters. "I’ll consult with the team to gather more information," he added.

      It's not uncommon for upgrades to be available for just one car initially, similar to what recently happened at Red Bull. However, Red Bull’s new developments are set to be implemented on "both cars," as confirmed by advisor Dr. Helmut Marko. In contrast, Aston Martin has only one updated car ready - that of team owner Lawrence Stroll’s son. "At least that’s what the media is reporting," Alonso joked.

      It is expected that the Silverstone-based team will evaluate the performance of Stroll’s and Alonso’s cars on Friday before deciding on the next steps. "I don’t believe there’s any pressure to thoroughly analyze the new package," Alonso asserted, "because it doesn’t have to yield results immediately. We don’t have to integrate them into the car regardless of the circumstances.

      "We’re quite relaxed about it and will take the necessary time before presenting it in the race, ensuring that it’s definitely an improvement over the current model." The Spaniard acknowledges that he doesn’t hold high expectations for a major advancement with Stroll’s upgraded car.

      "Whenever there’s an enhancement made to the car, the team feels optimistic, but we’ve learned from the past two years that the developments may not always meet expectations," said Alonso.