Aston Martin’s latest Hungary upgrade package, targeting a second‑lap deficit to Cadillac, has been called “a big undertaking” by chief trackside officer Mike Krack.
Aston Martin faces a reliability‑heavy start to 2026
Early races saw only Fernando Alonso score points at Monaco, while Nico Hülkenberg and Sergio Perez moved off the top‑10 grid to penalties. The team’s chief issue has been the interface between the Honda engine and the chassis, with vibration problems and battery failures forcing a halt to performance upgrades.
Consequently, Aston Martin postponed aero improvements until the final pre‑summer race, allowing the cars to lag a full second per lap behind Cadillact in qualifying.
Part supply remains under scrutiny
When asked if enough parts exist to fit both cars for Hungary, Krack acknowledged the question as a “one million dollar question.” He maintained confidence that AMRTC’s production crew can deliver the needed components, but admitted uncertainty about spare part numbers.
“We’re not going to have five spares of each component,” he said, stressing the need for efficiency to meet tight deadlines.
Preparation for contingencies
Krack stressed that the upgrade plan does not hinge on a single missing part and that the team has fallback options if any component fails to appear on schedule. He urged careful expectations, noting that the car could still finish far back, perhaps only in midfield or lower.
“Every circuit exposes different weaknesses,” he added. “We must have all the pieces. Once that’s confirmed, we’ll evaluate our position on the track.”
Team focus shifts from back‑to‑front chase to securing a car on track
Krack emphasised the priority of return to race action, after a season spent alone at the back of the field. He said there are no guarantees ahead; rather, the focus will be on seeing where the car performs, depending on the circuit’s demands.
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