The team will finally introduce the upgrades at next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix, having delayed performance developments earlier in the 2026 Formula 1 season in order to solve reliability problems. However, chief trackside officer Mike Krack has admitted that the team is racing against time to produce enough parts, and that spare component availability remains uncertain ahead of the event.
The Silverstone-based squad has endured a challenging season, spending much of it near the back of the field. Reliability issues linked to integrating Honda‘s power unit with the chassis, including vibration problems and battery failures, forced the team to divert resources away from aerodynamic development until these fundamental issues were addressed.
Aston Martin delayed performance upgrades to solve these reliability issues
Rather than introducing incremental updates throughout the season, the team opted to postpone its major aerodynamic package until the final race before Formula 1’s summer break.
According to Motorsport.com, this has cost the team around a second per lap in qualifying, putting them behind Cadillac. Aston Martin hopes the new package will significantly improve the competitiveness of the AMR26, although team management has urged caution over expectations.
When asked whether enough new components would be available for both cars in Hungary, Krack admitted that this was uncertain.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” he said.
“Everybody is working very hard to get the parts and prepare the cars. It is a huge undertaking when you decide to approach it this way.
“You always try to push the deadlines back as far as possible. Everyone at AMRTC is working flat out at the moment. I’m an optimist…
“So I think we’ll have two race-ready cars. I honestly don’t think we’ll have five spare sets of every component.”
Contingency plans are already in place
Krack explained that Aston Martin has developed multiple contingency plans in case some components are not completed in time. He insisted that the entire upgrade package does not depend on any single part being available.
“You always have to prepare for different scenarios. What if you have this, but not that? You can’t make yourself dependent on one missing part because then nothing works,’ he said.
“There are plans ready. What if we don’t have that? Can we manage with this? Again, you can’t have a complete backup for everything.
“But I think everyone has done a very good job of trying to reduce the risks. We also have contingency plans in place in case one or two components don’t arrive in time.”
These contingency measures should enable Aston Martin to introduce most, if not all, of the package, even if production schedules remain tight.
Krack urges us to have realistic expectations for Hungary
While the new aerodynamic package is Aston Martin’s most significant performance update of the season, Krack emphasised that the team is not anticipating an immediate transformation.
He acknowledged that Aston Martin still trails not only the front-running teams, but also much of the midfield, which makes it difficult to predict how much performance the upgrades will unlock.
“I think we have to be careful with our expectations,” Krack explained.
“We’re quite a long way behind the leaders, but also behind the midfield. First, we need to get the car on the track properly in Hungary.
“First, we have to check that everything is in order because the schedules are tight — we mustn’t forget that. Then we’ll see where we stand.”
“The most important thing for all of us is that we’re racing again. That’s really important for us as a team. That’s our goal, and then we’ll see where we end up.
“It will be hard to make predictions because every circuit is different. Sometimes your weaknesses are exposed and sometimes your strengths come to the fore.
“So it will vary throughout the season. But we’re looking forward to improving the car and seeing where we end up.”
Hungarian Grand Prix could define Aston Martin’s season
Hungary represents a pivotal moment for Aston Martin’s 2026 campaign. After sacrificing months of aerodynamic development to address reliability issues, the team hopes that its extensive upgrade package will enable it to return to the midfield battle.
Even if the gains fall short of challenging the leading teams immediately, a clear step forward would validate Aston Martin’s strategy of prioritising reliability over performance.
Conversely, another disappointing weekend could raise questions about whether the delayed development programme has set the team back too far to recover before attention fully shifts towards future projects.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
