Newey confirms major Aston Martin update for Hungary after ‘difficult period’ with health

Adrian Newey says Aston Martin’s major upgrade is set to be introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix as he recovers from a “difficult period” with his health.

The Aston Martin team principal joined mid-way through last season and believes the delays in him being able to start work played a role in an overweight and challenging car being delivered of this season. Newey said he was also facing some health issues during that time – “In truth, I was not 100 percent last year. I had to balance health and work much more carefully” – but that he is “OK now” and able to help work on a significant upgrade that is due before the summer break.

“We plan to introduce our upgrade in Hungary on both cars,” Newey told the Aston Martin F1 website.

“The main structural elements remain the same – the chassis and gearbox architecture don't fundamentally change – but we've taken weight out of both, which required re-homologating and crash testing the forward chassis.

“The front suspension is unchanged. The rear suspension is slightly revised. We've developed a new nose and substantially revised aerodynamic surfaces. So, while the core structure is similar, it's a big aerodynamic package coupled with significant weight reduction. The target is to get very close to the weight limit.

“It was a painful decision [to not upgrade the car in smaller steps]. While others have been adding performance, we've effectively been standing still in relative terms, so each weekend can feel more painful than the last.

“But we believe it's the right decision – the right investment for our future, if you like. Our partners – Aramco, Valvoline, Honda and others – understand that this is a necessary trying period that we, in truth, probably need to go through to come out stronger, with a decent step forward in the second half of this season and a much bigger one for next year.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Newey said timing and organizational deficits played a role in the car performance seen so far this year, while also admitting his own aerodynamic direction has delivered unanticipated challenges. But the managing technical partner is hopeful the new car will help convince double world champion Fernando Alonso to keep racing in the hope of stronger performance in 2027.

“Both drivers have shown frustration, and at times that has spilled into the media," he said. "But it's also understandable. They're competitive animals. They want to fight at the front. I've had a lot of conversations with both of them about where we are, where we're going.

“It's very important [for Alonso]. Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade and, if it performs we hope he'll be in the cockpit for another season.

“Given his experience, his feel for the car, his ability to guide development, he's a tremendous asset. But he wants to see clear, tangible progress. If we can show that we're moving decisively in the right direction, he's absolutely committed to being behind the wheel.”