Aston Martin’s upgraded Honda power unit made its track debut during a filming day in Budapest on Fernando Alonso’s 45th birthday, giving the Silverstone team fresh hope after a difficult first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Jak Crawford drove the revised AMR26 at the Hungaroring, where the team began gathering data ahead of the engine’s planned competitive debut at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The timing gave Aston Martin an opportunity to mark Fernando Alonso’s birthday with a symbolic gift. After a complicated campaign defined by the AMR26’s severe performance problems, the team put its upgraded Honda engine on track for the first time in Hungary.
Fernando Alonso turns 45 as Aston Martin tests Honda upgrade
Fernando Alonso celebrated his 45th birthday with Aston Martin attempting to open a more encouraging chapter in its season. The AMR26 has proved to be one of the most disappointing cars in Formula 1 history, but the Silverstone team hopes its latest technical developments can finally begin to reverse that trend.
The two-time world champion had already responded positively to the aerodynamic upgrades introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso explained that the changes had finally allowed him to rediscover the feeling of “driving a car”.
Video: Aston Martin’s new Honda engine runs at the Hungaroring
The following footage shows the updated Aston Martin running at the Hungaroring during the Budapest filming day.
ADUO concessions support Aston Martin Honda engine upgrade
The upgraded power unit was developed with the benefit of the concessions available through the ADUO system. Its debut came only a few days after Aston Martin introduced its extensive AMR26 aerodynamic upgrade package at the same circuit.
Fernando Alonso welcomed those changes positively, explaining that the revised car finally provided a more natural feeling from behind the wheel. Aston Martin now hopes the upgraded Honda power unit can deliver another significant step, revive the team’s ambitions and strengthen its relationship with the two-time Formula 1 world champion.
Jak Crawford was behind the wheel of the AMR26 in its updated configuration. After participating in the Pirelli tyre tests, the American driver was tasked with covering the 200 kilometres permitted during the filming day and collecting data on the new Honda power unit, which has so far been one of the car’s principal weaknesses.
Dutch Grand Prix will provide the first competitive test
The first genuine test for the upgraded engine will come at the Dutch Grand Prix, which will take place at Zandvoort from 21 to 23 August when Formula 1 returns from its summer break. The full 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule will provide Aston Martin with its next opportunity to assess the revised package under competitive conditions.
Fernando Alonso will follow the data collected in Budapest particularly closely. The Spaniard will be hoping the combined aerodynamic and power-unit upgrades can represent a turning point for Aston Martin and offer the team a more promising outlook for the closing stages of the 2026 season.
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