Stroll finishes P13 and Alonso P14 after AMR26 upgrade
HungaroringThe Hungarian Grand Prix, Round 11 of the Formula 1 season, took place at Hungaroring.
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Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team contested the race with the upgraded AMR26.
Fernando Alonso, who had reached Q2 for the team’s first time this season, started from 16th on the grid, while Lance Stroll lined up in 20th. Both drivers started on Soft tyres.
Alonso was passed by Oliver Bearman (Haas) immediately after the start, but overtook the slow-starting George Russell (Mercedes) and went through Turn 1 in 16th place. At Turn 2, he passed Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) and Bearman around the outside, although Bortoleto subsequently repassed him. Alonso also challenged Franco Colapinto (Alpine) during an intense battle for position and began Lap 2 in 15th.
Stroll lost one position at the start but regained it at Turn 2. At the final corner, he attempted to pass Alexander Albon (Williams) around the outside, but had to ease off the throttle at the exit, compromising his acceleration and allowing Russell through. Stroll began Lap 2 in 20th.
On Lap 5, Alonso was overtaken by Russell at Turn 1 and dropped to 16th. Stroll, meanwhile, passed Albon down the inside to move up to 19th. Stroll pitted at the end of Lap 8, switching from Soft to Medium tyres. On Lap 16, he passed Sergio Perez (Cadillac) down the inside at Turn 1. Alonso continued on the Soft tyres before pitting on Lap 34 for Mediums. He rejoined in 19th.
On Lap 37, Alonso used Bearman’s slipstream along the main straight and moved up to 17th at Turn 1. Bearman drew alongside around the outside at Turn 2, but Alonso held the position on the inside. Alonso then went down the inside of Carlos Sainz (Williams) at Turn 1 on Lap 38 to move up to 16th.
Stroll made his second pit stop on Lap 38, changing from Medium to Soft tyres.
On Lap 56, Oscar Piastri (McLaren) stopped at the side of the track with a technical issue, prompting a Virtual Safety Car (VSC). Alonso pitted under the VSC and switched from Medium to Soft tyres. The race resumed with Stroll in 12th and Alonso in 15th.
On Lap 61, Alonso challenged Colapinto around the outside at Turn 1, used the cutback and completed the pass on the exit to move up to 14th. On the following lap, Pierre Gasly (Alpine) passed Stroll, dropping him to 13th.
There were no further changes in position, with Stroll finishing 13th, one lap down, and Alonso taking 14th at the end of the 70-lap race.
I felt good in the car today, and it was nice to feel like we were racing again. We’re not where we want to be yet so there’s more work to do, but we’re in the mix now. The more laps we get with the package, the more performance we’ll unlock. It’s the most encouraging upgrade we’ve had in a long time and we’ve got more coming for Zandvoort, so it’s positive to see we’re moving in the right direction.
I felt good in the car today, and it was nice to feel like we were racing again. We’re not where we want to be yet so there’s more work to do, but we’re in the mix now. The more laps we get with the package, the more performance we’ll unlock. It’s the most encouraging upgrade we’ve had in a long time and we’ve got more coming for Zandvoort, so it’s positive to see we’re moving in the right direction.
It was a good step forward for us this weekend, so it’s a solid baseline for us to build on when we return after the summer break. The car was performing well in the race, and we were able to fight with those around us, which was great after some difficult weekends. We’ll keep pushing, and we’ll see how things come together in Zandvoort, especially with Honda’s update.
It was a good step forward for us this weekend, so it’s a solid baseline for us to build on when we return after the summer break. The car was performing well in the race, and we were able to fight with those around us, which was great after some difficult weekends. We’ll keep pushing, and we’ll see how things come together in Zandvoort, especially with Honda’s update.
It's clear we've taken a very encouraging first step forward with the upgrade, and the progress made is a huge credit to the hard work of the entire team at Silverstone. The other positive is that performance was in line with our data predictions, showing good correlation between our updated simulation tools and the track. This is a strong indication we are on the right development path for the short and longer term. With valuable learnings gathered today, we now have a solid baseline to build on when we return from the summer break, with further upgrades planned for Zandvoort.
It's clear we've taken a very encouraging first step forward with the upgrade, and the progress made is a huge credit to the hard work of the entire team at Silverstone. The other positive is that performance was in line with our data predictions, showing good correlation between our updated simulation tools and the track. This is a strong indication we are on the right development path for the short and longer term. With valuable learnings gathered today, we now have a solid baseline to build on when we return from the summer break, with further upgrades planned for Zandvoort.
In Hungary, we have been supporting the team with the power unit integration. We’ve also been able to collect vital data, which will help us come the next race. We will now take the important step of introducing our new-spec power unit in the Netherlands.
Before then, during Wednesday’s filming day, we will run the new engine in the AMR26 for the first time, before the summer shutdown commences.
In Hungary, we have been supporting the team with the power unit integration. We’ve also been able to collect vital data, which will help us come the next race. We will now take the important step of introducing our new-spec power unit in the Netherlands.
Before then, during Wednesday’s filming day, we will run the new engine in the AMR26 for the first time, before the summer shutdown commences.
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