Martin Brundle praises the initial progress of the new Aston Martin, while believing that the true return of the British team will still take time.
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The new version of the AMR26 made its debut this weekend at the Hungaroring with a significant package of developments aimed at relaunching Aston Martin’s season. The initial feedback is encouraging, even if the team remains cautious.
Fernando Alonso notably praised a more predictable car and excellent correlation between factory simulations and observed track behavior. A crucial element for the development of future upgrades.
Martin Brundle shares this sentiment. The Sky Sports F1 consultant believes that progress is visible, even if he still considers it premature to imagine Aston Martin quickly returning to the forefront.
“The car clearly looks better”
After observing the car on track on Friday, Brundle acknowledged that the developments brought by the team led by Adrian Newey seemed to be producing their first effects.
“The car clearly looks better. It seemed more performant when I observed it on track yesterday.”
The former driver, however, reminds us that this first evolution represents only the beginning of a vast reconstruction plan.
Aston Martin still needs to introduce an improved Honda engine from the Dutch Grand Prix, while new chassis developments are also expected after the summer break, as confirmed by Adrian Newey.
A lack of speed… and reliability
While Brundle sees positive signs, he does not forget the many difficulties Aston Martin has encountered since the start of the season.
“Often, a team has speed but lacks reliability, or vice versa. It is then possible to correct one or the other of these problems.”
According to him, Aston Martin unfortunately combines both handicaps.
“This year, Aston Martin had neither the speed nor the reliability. In addition to that, the car was very difficult to drive.”
The former British driver believes that these problems largely explain the team’s disappointing results in this first half of the season.
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All the ingredients are there
Despite these difficulties, Brundle remains convinced that Aston Martin has all the necessary means to return to the top.
“All the ingredients are there. Aston Martin has everything it needs, but the recipe simply isn’t working at the moment.”
The consultant also emphasizes the importance of the correlation between simulation tools and actual track performance.
“If these developments do not produce the expected results, it will mean that the factory’s development tools are not correctly correlated with what the stopwatch shows on track. That’s what we are waiting to verify.”
However, Fernando Alonso’s initial feedback seems to indicate that this correlation is now much better, a point deemed essential for further development.
Brundle sees 2027 rather than 2026
Even if the first signs are encouraging, Martin Brundle believes that Aston Martin’s true return to the forefront will still require patience.
“I fear we will have to wait until 2027. I am even quite convinced that it will be then that Honda and Aston Martin will finally regain the level at which they should compete.”
The Briton finally reminds us that the duo formed by Adrian Newey and Fernando Alonso has all the potential to aim for the greatest successes.
He tempers this optimism, however, with an obvious fact: even the best engineers and best drivers cannot win without a sufficiently performing car.
“But you also need the aerodynamic downforce and engine power to accompany this exceptional combination.”
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