Alonso Encouraged by Major Upgrade
Fernando Alonso described the performance of his Aston Martin as “much better” after the team debuted a 16-part upgrade package during Hungarian Grand Prix practice on Friday. The Spaniard said the car felt more glued to the ground and easier to drive, with more predictable grip in corners, though he cautioned it was only the first step and a long way to go for the squad.
Lance Stroll’s day ended prematurely when a left-rear suspension failure on his car during first practice ruled him out of the second session. Adrian Newey later revealed the broken component was not among the new parts, but the surrounding cladding changes complicated the spare parts situation and made the failure unexpected.
Newey Targets Respectability After Difficult Start
Newey, who joined from Red Bull in March 2025, admitted the opening races had been a “complete nightmare” and set an immediate goal of achieving respectability and scoring at least a point. The chassis upgrade arrives a round ahead of Honda’s expected major engine update at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.
Alonso finished 19th on the second practice timesheet but lost a significantly quicker lap to a track-limits violation, while traffic and a red flag caused by Franco Colapinto’s crash also hampered his running. He believes more pace can be unlocked for Saturday’s qualifying session, which starts at 3pm.
The Hungarian Grand Prix race takes place on Sunday at 2pm, with every session live on Sky Sports F1 throughout the weekend.