(Motorsport-Total.com) – Aston Martin has made a significant step forward with the major update package from Hungary and the new Honda power unit, which was used for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso secured the team’s best season result so far with ninth place in Zandvoort.
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However, there was little celebration at Aston Martin. Because team principal Mike Krack made it clear right away that the result was also favored by the characteristics of the Zandvoort track. At the same time, the team has apparently not yet fully exploited the potential of the revised AMR26.
“Since Budapest, we know that we are a bit stronger in the race,” says Krack. At the same time, he points to the different track characteristics in Budapest and Zandvoort: “I think Fernando said that our result will more or less depend on how long the straights are.”
“So these were two races where the straights were rather short. So we will have more difficult races ahead, but I think that is part of the game. There are races where you are strong, and there are races where you are less strong. So it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes.”
Aston Martin not fast enough on the straights
The next phase of the season is likely to be a tougher test for Aston Martin. Monza and Baku are on the schedule, two tracks that are among the circuits with the longest straights on the Formula 1 calendar. Exactly there, one of the biggest weaknesses of the AMR26 could become very noticeable.
Because even Zandvoort brutally exposed the deficits of the Honda power unit. In qualifying, Aston Martin had the second slowest car in terms of top speed in the field. The best value was only 309.5 km/h – well behind Alpine with 331.7 km/h and just ahead of Cadillac with 309.4 km/h.
Thus, the announced power increase of the revised Honda power unit was at least barely visible on the track. Krack still sees the current development status positively and emphasizes that Aston Martin first has to gain experience with the new overall package.
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“We are getting to know this package better and better,” says the person responsible. “With the big package we introduced in Budapest, it will take a few sessions to learn how to handle it and how to set it up,” emphasizes the native Luxembourger, making it clear that no immediate performance jumps are to be expected.
Aston Martin “understands the package better and better”
“And the same actually applies to the introduction of the power unit now. We have to learn how to use it, we have to learn how to optimize it, and I think it will cost us a few events, but it was a good step forward.”
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That the drivers already feel significantly more comfortable with the new package than in the first races of the year was also heard over the radio during the sessions. Both Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll spoke positively about the car’s behavior.
“That fits with what I said about the attempt to understand the package,” Krack sees confirmation. “When you have changes on this scale, it is always difficult to constantly get the maximum out of everything with the intensity of the sessions.”
“And the more sessions we have, the better we will get it under control,” believes the Aston Martin team principal. At the same time, Krack remains cautious: “But there will always be sessions where you have a bit more difficulty, and others where it will be easier, and we had a pretty good configuration this weekend.”
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