Aston Martin Formula 1 has introduced a major 16-part upgrade package for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, with chief trackside engineer Mike Krack describing the changes as “a significant aerodynamic upgrade and a weight reduction.” The new AMR26 package is expected to play a key role in the team’s second-half season push.
Aston Martin Reveals Extensive AMR26 Upgrade Package
The upgrades, which debuted during Friday’s FP1 session, represent a major development step for the struggling team. The results of the revised “B Car” will be closely watched as Aston Martin prepares for the arrival of the overhauled Honda engine in Zandvoort after the summer break.
The 16-part upgrade package includes changes across several areas of the car, including aerodynamics, cooling, suspension, and floor design.
- Redesigned rear wing with new winglets added to the top flap
- Revised rear wing end plates
- Redesigned engine cover
- New cooling louvers to the lower (separate) portion of the engine cover
- Revised twist distribution of the beam wing
- Redesigned diffuser
- New inlets, exits, and vanes at rear corners
- Revised leg positions and fairings of the rear suspension
- Modified floor design ahead of the rear tires
- Updated front floor fences
- Revised lip and deflector at front corners
- Revised sidepod air inlets
- New front end plates with revised body, diveplane and foot
- New longer, thinner nose
- New front wing
The FIA Instagram graphics showed additional details of the improvements included in the package.
Adrian Newey Says Early Upgrade Results Are Promising
Adrian Newey said the team is still in the early stages of understanding the impact of the new package but indicated that initial feedback has been positive.
“It’s very early days in terms of understanding it,” Newey said during a press conference about the package. “The provisional results are promising.”
He added that the Hungarian Grand Prix upgrade is only the first stage of Aston Martin’s planned development program.
“It’s only part of the package. We’ll have some more steps in [Zandvoort], and then further steps in Monza and Baku. It’s the first part of our planned upgrade. We’re very short on parts, so we’re being careful and trying to learn all about it,” Newey said.
Aston Martin Targets Better Performance After Difficult Stretch
The upgrade package is designed to improve airflow, increase load, and reduce drag. Aston Martin has not revealed any performance targets or provided a specific lap-time improvement expected from the changes.
The team is hoping that introducing a large upgrade package at once, rather than gradually bringing new parts across multiple races, will deliver stronger results.
With Hungary marking the final race before the summer break, the weekend represents an important moment for Aston Martin after a difficult run of performances. The Silverstone-based team has struggled in recent races, with both cars finishing as the slowest of the field in Spa.
The performance issues have continued since the start of the European season, and in Belgium the Aston Martin cars were roughly five seconds away from pole position.
Stroll Retirement Adds Pressure After FP1 Session
If the upgrades provide a step forward, Aston Martin hopes the improvements will help the team during the second half of the season, particularly when Honda delivers its updated engine package.
However, the team faced an early setback when Lance Stroll was forced to retire from Friday’s first practice session due to a broken rear suspension.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will provide Aston Martin with its first major opportunity to evaluate whether the extensive AMR26 changes can deliver the performance gains the team is seeking.
