Sergio Pérez declared that Aston Martin’s major Revival of the AMR26 at the Hungarian Grand Prix will finally bridge the chasm with Cadillac Racing.
Aston Martin’s Hungarian GP overhaul lands a velocity lift
The AMR26 received a comprehensive aerodynamic face‑lift and a chassis weight cut ahead of Saturday’s run, a decision the owners postponed until the strip was primed for progress.
Crafting a new body panel set from the floor to the wings, the team targeted a loss of weight and lift to tack up to a two‑second per‑lap gain, a margin needed to leave the back of the grid.
Pérez keeps expectations low, yet sees a gap closing
Speaking Thursday, the Mexican highlighted Cadillac’s power advantage, noting the “real fighting distance” has stretched to over two seconds in recent sessions.
“They are a strong team,” Pérez remarked. “We anticipate they’ll close the gap and move forward.”
Bottas notes uncertainty amid rumours
Valtteri Bottas shared that he “was both curious and a little scared” about Cadillac’s 2026 rival.“We’ll see how the car hits the track,” he said.
He added that, aside from the front suspension, “everything else is new.”
Engineering highlights: aerodynamic upgrade and weight reduction
Team engineer Mike Krack described the update as a “significant aerodynamic upgrade and a weight reduction,” stressing that the learn‑curve will be steep.
Krack said analysts could be optimistic, but “we will not expect to get everything out of it on the first run tomorrow.” He urged the crew to “learn how to manage this and get the best from it.”
Ongoing rivalry shapes Saturday race strategy
Aston Martin’s adventure in Hungary now hinges on the newly developed chassis, its revised aerodynamics, and the Honda engine’s growing drive, as the manufacturers battle to keep pace with Cadillac’s gains.
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