Speculations about Horner persist as 'significantly improved' Aston performs.

      "The initial races have been a total nightmare."

      Adrian Newey hopes that Aston Martin's completely revamped car has finally put an end to the "total nightmare" of its poor start to the 2026 season. The heavily modified chassis made its debut in Hungary, featuring 16 distinct changes noted in the FIA documentation, impacting nearly every significant aerodynamic aspect of the vehicle.

      "Hopefully, yes," Newey replied when asked if Friday signified the conclusion of the nightmare and the start of a new chapter. "The first races have truly been a complete nightmare, you're absolutely correct. We hope to at least secure a point and regain some respectability now. I think that’s our immediate goal. From there, we can attempt to continue progressing."

      Fernando Alonso provided a positive initial evaluation of the new package. "The car feels more stable and is simpler to drive, enabling better control of grip in corners," the Spaniard stated, characterizing the car as "much better." "It’s more predictable. I believe we can compete with other cars. We obviously need to analyze the data further and make comparisons, but I don’t anticipate any major surprises or a significant shortfall in cornering compared to the top of the midfield. That, obviously, is our main aim - to be at the forefront of the midfield. Clearly, we still have some advancements to make regarding the chassis and the engine."

      The Spaniard, who will turn 45 next week, downplayed the resurgence of vibrations from the Honda power unit during the opening practice. "I think the team resolved it to a large extent by FP2, so there’s no reason for concern tomorrow," he disclosed. However, Lance Stroll's first day with the new car ended prematurely due to a suspension failure. Aston Martin lacked the necessary spare parts to finish repairs before the second session, with replacements being flown in from the factory overnight.

      "Due to a shortage of parts, we were unable to fix Lance’s car in time, but he will be back on the track on Saturday," said team representative Pedro de la Rosa. Newey also addressed the renewed rumors connecting his former Red Bull boss, Christian Horner, with Aston Martin. "I keep hearing these rumors about Christian," he said. "I can’t comment further. I don’t really know anything about that. All I can say is that we’re very happy with our senior management team. We may make some minor adjustments, but we’re very satisfied with the personnel we have at AMR."

      Newey was more definitive regarding Alonso’s future, after the two-time champion mentioned on Thursday that he already has a contract for 2027 and would not be moving elsewhere. "Clearly, Fernando is an exceptional driver," Newey remarked. "He contributes immensely to the team, both through his feedback and his skills. So, for us, he is undoubtedly important. I’m quite confident that Fernando is enjoying his time with us and that our partnership will continue."