Aston race director says thank you: "Good that you journalists helped us"

– The Belgian Grand Prix was another disappointment for Aston Martin in an already demoralizing 2026 Formula 1 season. Lance Stroll, the team owner’s son, did not see the checkered flag due to a clutch defect. And Fernando Alonso, a world champion in the premier class 20 years ago, finished last – humiliated, two laps behind, without a chance even against Valtteri Bottas from the brand new Cadillac racing team.

Read more After all: McLaren brings Macarena rear wing to Hungary

On Sunday evening, Mike Krack, the head of the Aston racing crew, gathered a few journalists as usual. The mood was – as so often this year – subdued. But at least full of hope. “It’s time for us to go racing again,” says the Luxembourger.

Because it’s been a while since Aston Martin competed in a real race with real opponents: “It was even difficult for us to keep up with the midfield. Whatever the update may bring: it’s the most important thing for everyone in the team that we go racing again now,” Krack says hopefully.

How much will the Aston update really bring?

His hopes are based on the update, developed under chief mastermind Adrian Newey, which is to be used for the first time at the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. According to hearsay, the changes could bring up to two seconds per lap. Even if that were true: Alonso would have finished second to last in Spa qualifying with it, just as he would have with the “old” chassis.

“Update” might be an understatement for the planned Aston package. The British team had to have the chassis crash-tested again by the FIA. When asked if this meant that completely new monocoques had been built, Krack replies: “Yes. It’s quite extensive. As Adrian has already said, the main elements are aerodynamics and weight. And to achieve that, you have to rebuild quite a bit. Everything we set out to do, we have achieved.”

And he continues: “We are counting the days. […] The phase in which we had no updates for a longer period is now over. It looks good for the future. And we are all simply looking forward to Budapest. There we will see what we have.”

Read more Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura: This is how they explain their move to Yamaha

Why Aston Martin is under pressure

It will be an important weekend in many respects. For Lawrence Stroll, who presumably longs for the certainty that he has not made a serious mistake with the all-star team led by Newey. For Newey, who will be measured by the update. And for Alonso, who at almost 45 years old will eventually have to decide whether he wants to continue with Formula 1.

Photo gallery: All Aston Martin Formula 1 team principals

The atmosphere between Aston Martin and power unit partner Honda has visibly improved in recent weeks. After the shock of the season start, the Aston side also vented its frustration over the dramatic failure with verbal attacks against the new partner.

Closer together with Honda

Meanwhile, the realization has probably set in that Honda cannot be blamed for everything. And the greatest chances of success for the future do not lie in laying waste to the partnership on the battlefield of media platforms. Especially since Honda, in the history of Formula 1, has sometimes taken a little longer, but ultimately has almost always been successful.

External pressure has also brought them together: “The sleepless nights and the beating we got from you have united us,” Krack tells the journalists in Spa. “You constantly asked us questions. But you weren’t aggressive – because we dealt with the situation openly. I think it was good that you, as journalists, helped us during this difficult phase.”

A thank you that is probably based on the assumption that the Hungary package will meet expectations. Because if Newey’s update flops, then the grace of international headlines could quickly be over…

Read more Surprise Antonelli? Toto Wolff raves about his protégé