Aston Martin boss Adrian Newey has revealed when the team will release its highly-anticipated Formula 1 upgrades, predicting it will be a “large step” in the right direction.
The Silverstone-based squad has endured a miserable 2026 season so far, with its AMR26 – designed by Newey – languishing at the back of the grid.
Problems with the brand-new Honda power unit has centred around a number of the issues the car has suffered, as it gets to grips with its manufacturing deal with the Japanese giants.
There is no doubt that together, Aston and Honda have indeed remedied a number of the problems to a certain extent, but the car remains fighting for scraps at the foot of the grid.
Hard work has been ongoing and unrelenting at its technology campus, and Honda has naturally qualified for the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrades Opportunities [ADUO] scheme.
Newey, speaking to AstonMartinF1.com, revealed some of the finer details of the upgrade suite and when it is scheduled for its first outing.
“We plan to introduce our upgrade in Hungary on both cars,” the famed technical whizz said.
“The main structural elements remain the same – the chassis and gearbox architecture don’t fundamentally change – but we’ve taken weight out of both, which required re-homologating and crash testing the forward chassis.
“The front suspension is unchanged. The rear suspension is slightly revised. We’ve developed a new nose and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces. So, while the core structure is similar, it’s a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction. The target is to get very close to the weight limit.”
Newey explains ‘investment’ in much-needed tools
Newey continued that, whilst being cagey about exact ideas of how much the AMR26 will improve post-upgrade, he is confident of noticeable differences.
“We’re predicting a large step, but I’m reluctant to put specific numbers out there. We’ll have to see when the car gets on track,” he said.
“Historically, at this team, there hasn’t been enough investment in engineering simulation tools – not just project management systems, but the core physics tools themselves. We’re putting that investment in now, but you don’t rewrite and validate those tools overnight. Correlating them properly with the real car takes time.
“At the moment, they’re improving, but the real gains from that work will come later in the year.”
Whilst it leaves Aston likely to be at the back again for its home race this weekend, it gives the team a significant and much-needed confidence boost for the near future.
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