Aston Martin has completely redesigned the AMR-26 ahead of Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team revealed an unprecedented 16-part upgrade package this morning. That marks the largest single-vehicle modification by any constructor in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will drive what is effectively a “B-spec” car to rescue a torrid campaign. The overhaul includes a completely new front wing, nose, floor body, sidepod inlet, diffuser, engine cover, and rear suspension. The sweeping changes became public when the FIA published the formal car presentation submissions ahead of the weekend sessions.
To implement the radical aerodynamic shift, the garage crew broke the mandated operational curfew. Mechanics worked late into the night to install the 16 new components on both chassis. In stark contrast, Alpine arrived in Budapest as the only team on the grid without a single new part.
Despite the aggressive aerodynamic overhaul, Team Principal Adrian Newey is operating with a delayed powertrain timeline. The highly anticipated Honda engine upgrade is not scheduled to arrive until the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Engine Delays Stall Aston Martin’s Hungarian Track Advantage
The decision to launch a massive aerodynamic package without the accompanying Honda power unit places Alonso and Stroll at a mechanical disadvantage in Budapest. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli currently commands a 45-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship. Aston Martin’s disjointed development schedule means they must extract maximum downforce from the Hungaroring’s tight corners using an older engine map.
The engineering team is banking entirely on the new floor and diffuser to close the gap to the front-runners before the summer break ends. Running a radically different chassis with an outgoing power unit creates complex airflow and cooling challenges that Newey’s squad must solve during the abbreviated Friday practice windows.