Aston upgrade expected to gain 'seconds' in Hungary.

      "I’ve heard that Aston Martin is gaining 70 points of downforce."

      Aston Martin's long-anticipated upgrade for the Hungarian GP could lead to gains measured in seconds, according to Luis Garcia Abad, former manager of Fernando Alonso. Abad, who managed Alonso for approximately 20 years and now oversees the Madrid GP project, noted that Alonso's performances remain impressive despite Aston Martin's poor initial 2026 car. "I’m unsure about his future, but that's not a concern," he remarked at the Europa Press’ Desayunos Deportivos event on Wednesday. "What Fernando is achieving at 45, with remarkable dignity, despite lacking a competitive car is even more noteworthy." He added, "In the paddock, it’s well-known who the best is, yet both Fernando and Carlos (Sainz) face limitations that prevent them from being at the forefront." Abad believes Aston could gain seconds this week, citing media reports.

      Former Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has also heard similarly significant projections regarding the package led by Adrian Newey. "I’ve heard that Aston Martin is gaining 70 points of downforce, which is equivalent to 2.3 seconds," he stated on the High Performance Racing podcast. However, he cautioned that the potential gain may diminish once the new car is on the track, adding, "Those 2.3 seconds could reduce to 1.5 seconds if the simulation tools aren’t accurately aligned with actual conditions."

      This package signifies a substantial update following Aston Martin's completion of the first 11 races with virtually the same chassis used in preseason testing. There were indications that the final components had only arrived at the Hungaroring on Wednesday, raising concerns about whether two complete specifications and enough spare parts could be ready for the weekend. "Everyone is working tirelessly to prepare the parts and get the cars ready," trackside leader Mike Krack stated at Spa. "It's a significant challenge when you decide to approach it this way, as deadlines are always pushed to the limit. So, there’s a lot of effort going on, and I’m optimistic, believing we will have two cars prepared." He added, "However, I don’t think we’ll have five spares of each, to be frank."

      Regarding Alonso, he is managing expectations after several months of setbacks. "It will be challenging," he acknowledged. "There’s a two-and-a-half-second gap to the midfield." The upgrade for Hungary will be succeeded by Honda’s first major power unit enhancement at Zandvoort, making the next two races pivotal in determining if Aston Martin has started to overcome its unsuccessful start to the new regulations.