David Coulthard believes Aston Martin could make the biggest improvement of any Formula 1 team over the next two years, predicting that the Silverstone-based operation will return to winning races within that period. The former Formula 1 driver has been encouraged by the first signs of progress from Aston Martin’s Hungarian Grand Prix upgrade package. With a revised Honda power unit also scheduled to make its race debut at Zandvoort, Coulthard believes the foundations are being laid for a significant change in the team’s competitive position.
David Coulthard predicts major Aston Martin F1 improvement
Aston Martin’s outlook could become very different from the picture presented during the first half of the season. After several difficult months, the team finally began to receive encouraging feedback from the extensive development package introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The improvements have strengthened the belief that the project may finally be heading in the right direction. The progress made by the chassis is also supporting expectations that the Aston Martin AMR26B can deliver further gains during the second half of the campaign.
It is within this context that David Coulthard offered his assessment of the team’s future. The former Scottish driver believes Lawrence Stroll’s operation has the foundations required to produce the most substantial medium-term improvement on the Formula 1 grid, even suggesting that Aston Martin could return to the top step of the podium within the next two years.
Honda power-unit upgrade set for Zandvoort debut
The progress shown by the chassis represents only one part of Aston Martin’s recovery programme. Attention is now turning to the power unit, with Honda preparing to introduce an important evolution at the Dutch Grand Prix. The revised engine completed its first on-track shakedown during a filming day at the Hungaroring following the Hungarian Grand Prix. It is now scheduled to make its competitive debut at Zandvoort, the next round on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
The collaboration between Honda and Aston Martin is therefore entering a decisive phase. Their objective is to combine the aerodynamic progress delivered by the latest chassis developments with a genuine improvement in overall performance from the power unit. Zandvoort will offer the first opportunity to assess the revised package in race conditions. The complete timetable for the weekend is available in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule.
Aston Martin development programme continues after Hungary
The package introduced at the Hungaroring is not intended to be the final major development of Aston Martin’s season. Instead, it represents the beginning of a programme that is expected to continue across the next rounds of the championship. Alongside the Honda power-unit update planned for the Dutch Grand Prix, the AMR26 is set to receive further technical developments at Monza and Baku. Aston Martin intends to evolve the car gradually, consolidating the improvements that have emerged over recent weeks rather than relying on a single upgrade package.
The mood inside the team is considerably more positive than it was at the beginning of Formula 1’s new regulatory cycle. During the opening phase of the season, the car displayed significant weaknesses in almost every area of performance.
Aston Martin now appears to have identified a more effective technical direction. That development has restored confidence among both the engineers and the drivers as the team attempts to move away from the back of the grid.
Coulthard backs Aston Martin to make F1’s biggest leap
Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, David Coulthard delivered an emphatic prediction about the future of the British team.
“Aston Martin have been very, very poor — it has to be said, very, very poor,” David Coulthard said. “In short, I think they were about a second down on the engine and a couple of seconds down on the car. But mark my words: they will be the team that improves the most over the next two years, and I predict they will win races within the next two years.”
David Coulthard therefore acknowledged that Aston Martin’s starting point had been extremely weak. However, he believes the scale of the improvement still available could allow the team to make a bigger leap than any of its rivals. The long-term project is supported by Lawrence Stroll’s investment, Aston Martin’s technical infrastructure and its works partnership with Honda. Fernando Alonso also remains committed to the project after clarifying his Aston Martin future and ruling out a return to Alpine.
Coulthard admits Aston Martin’s season has fallen short
Despite his confidence in Aston Martin’s medium-term prospects, David Coulthard did not hide his disappointment with the team’s performance during the current season. Its results have fallen far short of the expectations that accompanied the beginning of the new regulatory era.
“I think even the Aston Martin staff would say they want this season erased from their record,” David Coulthard continued. “The only point we are talking about obviously came from Fernando Alonso at Monaco, in a race with more penalties than drivers, so that was quite a surprise.”
Aston Martin’s planned developments will therefore face an important examination over the next three Grands Prix. If the upgrades introduced between Zandvoort, Monza and Baku confirm the progress first seen in Hungary, the team will have evidence that its recovery towards the leading group has genuinely begun.
Should the improvements fail to translate into stronger results, more time may be required before Aston Martin can turn its considerable ambitions into tangible success. David Coulthard, however, is convinced that the team’s potential will eventually produce race-winning results.
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