F1 star Fernando Alonso issues a challenge: “This is just the first step”

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll had to wait a long time for the major upgrade package for this year’s car to be finalised. At the final race before the summer break at the Hungaroring, the time had finally come: the revised AMR26 took to the track. And the efforts of the Silverstone-based team paid off.

For the first time this year, the two-time world champion from Spain made it through Q1, meaning he was able to start the Grand Prix on the outskirts of the Hungarian capital, Budapest, from 16th on the grid. He finished the race in 14th place, crossing the line just behind his team-mate Stroll.

Speaking about the upgrade, the 32-time Grand Prix winner said: “I’m naturally happy with it, and when you put a virtually new car on the track, it’s important that it delivers what you expect. And even if it does, it was also important that we didn’t experience any nasty surprises.”

Engine partner Honda is also stepping up its game; the upgrade for the power unit is set to be used at the next race in Zandvoort. Alonso insists: “We’re all working together and know where our weaknesses lie. We’re also helping each other; Honda helped us address some of the car’s weaknesses at the start of the year, and now we’re trying to support them in improving the engine.”

Aston Martin is assisting the Japanese team particularly with software development, the Formula 1 veteran revealed. He also explained: “We still have a long way to go; we’re well aware of that.” And he added defiantly: “This is only the first step.”