Aston Martin is preparing a major AMR26 upgrade and a revised Honda power unit in an attempt to rescue its disastrous 2026 Formula 1 season. Following another collapse at Spa-Francorchamps, the Silverstone team is targeting the races in Budapest and Zandvoort as the potential beginning of a dramatic turnaround.
Lance Stroll suffered yet another retirement at the Belgian Grand Prix because of a technical transmission problem, while Fernando Alonso reached the chequered flag two laps behind the leaders. Aston Martin had already shown an extremely poor level of performance in qualifying, finishing several seconds away from the front.
Aston Martin AMR26 upgrade planned after Belgian GP collapse
The AMR26 appears to have been fundamentally flawed from the beginning. The car has suffered a long series of technical problems and is powered by a Honda engine that has so far fallen considerably short of expectations.
The Honda power unit is reportedly affected by persistent vibrations that limit its power delivery, while its outright performance is not especially strong even without those restrictions. Combined with the chassis problems, those weaknesses have turned the AMR26 into arguably the most disappointing car of the 2026 season.
Aston Martin is now aiming to begin its recovery between the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix, when a heavily revised version of the car is expected to appear. The scale of the planned changes is such that the new specification could effectively be considered an AMR26 B.
The current car has undoubtedly been the greatest disappointment of the championship so far, a situation made even more striking because the project carries the influence of Adrian Newey. When an engineer of his standing begins work on a new Formula 1 car, expectations naturally centre on excellence.
In this case, however, the result has been a disastrous project. Unless Aston Martin can reverse its fortunes, the AMR26 risks becoming one of the most damaging failures associated with the renowned British designer’s career—potentially the greatest.
The scale of Aston Martin’s early struggles has already prompted comparisons with the difficulties endured by other leading teams at the beginning of new technical eras. One analysis considered how the reaction might have differed had Ferrari suffered Aston Martin’s nightmare start to the 2026 season.
Spa could become the turning point in Aston Martin’s season
Spa-Francorchamps may nevertheless have represented a deadline for the current specification of the car and the end of a nightmare that has already lasted far too long.
Between the Hungarian Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in six days, and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort from 21 to 23 August, Aston Martin intends to introduce a substantially upgraded version of its green car. The revised chassis is also expected to be accompanied by an updated Honda power unit developed within the FIA’s ADUO framework.
Further details about the planned changes have emerged as Honda prepares major Aston Martin upgrades following the Spa nightmare.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer for the project, addressed the development programme after the Belgian Grand Prix.
“The Belgian Grand Prix marks the final weekend before the cars are updated over the next two races. We are concluding this Grand Prix, from which once again we can only learn from the situations we experienced and move forward together with Aston Martin.”
It was a cold and almost detached statement, one that may also suggest the relationship between Aston Martin and Honda is not entirely harmonious at this stage of the season.
That does not necessarily mean the partnership is approaching a breakdown. However, tensions clearly appear to exist, and they are unlikely to disappear completely unless the forthcoming upgrades finally transform the competitiveness and reliability of the car.
Adrian Newey alone cannot solve Aston Martin’s problems
It will not be enough for Adrian Newey to fulfil his responsibilities on the chassis side. Honda must also deliver a significant improvement with its power unit.
The chassis and engine need to complement one another, allowing Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to reach at least an acceptable level of competitiveness. Aston Martin cannot afford to repeat the performance seen at Spa, or indeed during the nine Grands Prix that preceded it.
The Honda update is expected to benefit from the additional development opportunities available under the 2026 engine regulations. The system is intended to give struggling manufacturers more freedom to improve, although the precise performance thresholds have already generated debate. A broader explanation of how the FIA’s ADUO engine development system works provides further context for Honda’s position.
The FIA’s assessment of power unit performance has also been questioned elsewhere in the paddock, with fresh scrutiny surrounding the ADUO manufacturer ranking after comments from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Aston Martin sits ahead of only Cadillac
Aston Martin has collected just one point and occupies the penultimate position in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of only Cadillac.
Even that comparison is concerning. Despite competing in its first Formula 1 season, the American team has frequently appeared capable of producing a higher level of performance than Aston Martin.
That is perhaps the most alarming aspect of the situation. Lawrence Stroll’s project has been developing for several years and has been supported by enormous investment in facilities, infrastructure and the recruitment of elite technical personnel.
However, instead of moving progressively closer to the front of the grid, Aston Martin appears to be falling deeper into competitive obscurity with each passing season.
Hungarian GP could begin a new season for Aston Martin
Budapest could effectively mark the beginning of a new championship for Aston Martin. The team desperately needs the revised AMR26 to show that its problems can be corrected and that the enormous investment behind the project can finally begin to produce meaningful results.
A team with Aston Martin’s resources, drivers and technical personnel cannot reasonably accept being reduced to a background role, circulating consistently near the back of the field.
At present, Formula 1 almost appears to feature ten teams competing to achieve their respective objectives, with an eleventh operation relegated to the role of a spectator. For Aston Martin, such a situation is simply unacceptable.
The coming upgrades will therefore represent far more than a conventional development package. They will be a crucial test of Adrian Newey’s ability to correct the AMR26, Honda’s capacity to improve its troubled power unit and Aston Martin’s hopes of preventing the remainder of its 2026 season from becoming a complete write-off.
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