Jul.23 (GMM) Aston Martin’s long-awaited Hungarian GP upgrade could produce a gain measured in seconds, according to Fernando Alonso’s former manager Luis Garcia Abad.
Abad, who managed Alonso for around 20 years and now leads the Madrid GP project, said the nearly-45-year-old’s performances remain remarkable despite Aston Martin’s disastrous original 2026 car.
“I don’t know if he’ll continue, but it’s not a problem,” he said at Europa Press’ Desayunos Deportivos event on Wednesday.
“What Fernando is doing at 45, with enviable dignity, without a car, is even more remarkable.”
“In the paddock, we all know who the best is, but with their cars, Fernando and Carlos (Sainz) have shortcomings that make it impossible for them to be at the top.”
“But I think Aston can gain seconds this week. I’m reading it in the media.”
Former Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer has heard similarly dramatic figures about the Adrian Newey-led package.
“I’ve heard that Aston Martin is gaining 70 points of downforce, which translates to 2.3 seconds,” he said on the High Performance Racing podcast.
However, he warned that the theoretical gain may shrink once the new car reaches the circuit. “Those 2.3 seconds could become 1.5 seconds if your simulation tools aren’t properly correlated with the track.”
The package represents a major overhaul after Aston Martin completed the first 11 races with essentially the same chassis it used during preseason testing.
There were suggestions the final components had only reached the Hungaroring on Wednesday, creating doubts about whether two complete specifications and sufficient spare parts could be prepared for the weekend.
“Everybody is working flat out to get the parts, to get the cars ready,” trackside boss Mike Krack said at Spa.
“It is a big undertaking if you decide to do it like this, because you always try to push the deadlines as far as you can. So, it’s a big effort going on at the moment, and I’m a positive thinker, so I think we will have two cars ready to go.”
“Now, I don’t think we will have five spares of each, to be honest.”
As for Alonso, he is keeping expectations under control after months of disappointment.
“It will be difficult,” he said.
“There’s a two-and-a-half-second gap to the midfield.”
The Hungary package will be followed by Honda’s first major power unit update at Zandvoort, making the next two races crucial to determining whether Aston Martin has finally begun reversing its failed start to the new regulations.
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