The Hungary-Zandvoort upgrade will influence Aston Martin and Alonso's future.

      Aston Martin hopes that this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix will be the low point of its challenging 2026 season, with a significant upgrade package just one race away. The team from Silverstone arrived at Spa anticipating difficulties with their unchanged car, as they prepare to roll out an entirely new and much-anticipated chassis package in Hungary next weekend, along with a new Honda power unit in Zandvoort.

      "It's the same car we had during preseason testing in Bahrain," the Spaniard remarked as the five-second gap to the leading pace became evident in practice. "Every race seems worse than the last because everyone else is improving."

      Lance Stroll expressed, "I hope this weekend is the last of our painful experiences. There's nothing we appreciate about our car. It lacks strengths, so we can only improve."

      Trackside boss Mike Krack downplayed the severity of the pace deficit at Spa. "This is what we expected," he explained. "This track is going to be the hardest of all. And we’re significantly behind. Any success we achieve will come from wearing down others, as there's nothing to contend for in terms of results. It would be naive to think otherwise."

      Stroll believes next weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix will determine whether Aston Martin has finally addressed its primary issues. "It's not particularly engine-focused; it's more of a chassis-focused circuit. That's the true test. If we remain very slow in Hungary, the power we gain at Zandvoort won’t resolve the chassis problems."

      The Canadian tempered expectations about the new Honda power unit, stating, "I think it will improve, but will we have the power of Mercedes or Red Bull? I don’t think so."

      The success or failure of Aston Martin’s overhaul may also be crucial for Alonso’s future, as the Spaniard is still considering whether to sign another contract for 2027. "It's hard to quantify improvement or make an estimate because we’ve had enough experience gauging performance gains and haven't realized them. So, it’s more about the team proving they’re heading in the right direction. I think the car's philosophy might not have been ideal, and we’re changing that. Rather than focusing on numbers, it’s about building confidence in our approach, which is also important for next year. There will be extensive testing in Budapest on Thursday or Friday to draw conclusions."

      Alonso also acknowledged that the highlight of the weekend is unlikely to be the Belgian GP, as Spain is set to face Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday. "During the race, you completely disconnect from everything else," he commented. "You’re in your own zone, inside the cockpit, enjoying it. But outside the car, my priority will definitely be watching the game if I can."