Fernando Alonso Sees “New Beginning” for Aston Martin After Encouraging First Race With Upgrades in Hungary
Fernando Alonso has expressed optimism about Aston Martin’s future after the team introduced its latest upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, describing the weekend as a possible “new beginning” for the squad as it prepares for the second half of the Formula 1 season.
The Spanish veteran was encouraged by the improved performance of the updated AMR26, with the car showing signs of greater competitiveness compared with previous races. Although Aston Martin still finished outside the points, Alonso believes the upgrades have provided the team with a stronger foundation to build on moving forward.
The Hungarian Grand Prix marked the first race weekend where Aston Martin fully evaluated its new developments under competitive conditions. The early signs were positive, with the updated car showing better pace during practice and qualifying.
For the first time this season, Alonso successfully reached Q3 during qualifying, giving the team a much-needed boost after a challenging opening part of the campaign.
The improvements continued into Sunday’s race. Lance Stroll achieved his strongest result of the season by finishing 13th, while Alonso crossed the finish line directly behind him in 14th place.
Although those positions were not enough to score championship points, the performance represented progress for Aston Martin, particularly because the team appeared much closer to the midfield battle than it had been earlier in the year.
Speaking after the race, Alonso explained that the most important aspect was feeling competitive again after a difficult period.
“It was good to feel competitive again,” Alonso said. “Especially at the beginning of the race, I think we had the pace to stay more or less with the midfield group.”
The two-time world champion added that the upgraded car provided the team with a better starting point for future development.
“That was positive, and hopefully this can become a good baseline to continue working with this new car,” he explained.
Aston Martin entered the season with high expectations but struggled to match the performance of leading teams. The introduction of the upgrade package represents a major attempt to change the team’s direction and close the gap to their rivals.
With the summer break now underway, Aston Martin has additional developments planned for the second half of the season. The team is expected to introduce further chassis improvements, while a revised power unit is also scheduled to arrive at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort in August.
Alonso believes those future updates could provide another step forward, particularly because the team still needs more performance in specific areas.
“Yes, exactly,” Alonso said when asked whether the Hungarian upgrade was only the beginning. “Especially with the engine, we are looking forward to Zandvoort and trying to become a little more competitive in terms of straight-line speed.”
The Spaniard explained that improving top speed will be crucial because Aston Martin is now close enough to compete in midfield battles, but still needs extra performance to overtake and defend effectively.
“That is the area where we need more speed,” Alonso said. “Hopefully, the second part of the championship can be like a new start for us.”
The positive assessment was shared by teammate Lance Stroll, who also felt that Aston Martin had made meaningful progress in Hungary.
The Canadian driver admitted that the team had struggled to compete with the midfield earlier in the season, making the Hungarian Grand Prix performance an important step.
“We were finally in the fight with the midfield for the first time this year, so that was good,” Stroll said.
“We just need to keep pushing. I think we made a big step this weekend, and now we have to continue improving.”
For Aston Martin, the Hungarian Grand Prix was not about immediate results but about proving that the development direction was working. Finishing 13th and 14th may not appear significant on paper, but the team viewed the stronger pace and improved balance of the AMR26 as encouraging signs.
Alonso’s experience has been particularly valuable during this difficult period, as the veteran driver has continued providing feedback to help engineers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the car.
The Spanish driver has repeatedly emphasized that Formula 1 development is a long-term process, and he believes the latest upgrades could provide the foundation needed for Aston Martin to become more competitive over the remaining races.
The team’s next major opportunity will come after the summer break, when further improvements are introduced and the upgraded power unit arrives. If those changes deliver the expected gains, Aston Martin hopes to move closer to regular midfield battles and potentially challenge for points more consistently.
For now, Alonso remains cautious but encouraged. The Hungarian Grand Prix did not transform Aston Martin into a front-running team overnight, but it gave the squad something it had been missing for much of the season: confidence that progress was finally being made.
The phrase “new start of the championship” reflects the team’s belief that the second half of the year could look very different from the first.
With additional upgrades still coming, Aston Martin will aim to turn its improved competitiveness into stronger results and continue rebuilding its position among Formula 1’s competitive midfield teams.