In the run-up to the Hungarian GP, Aston Martin finally introduced the major upgrade package the team had been looking forward to for months. The AMR26 has been modified in several key areas, with extensive changes to the front, floor, and rear of the car. The Silverstone-based team hopes to catch up after a particularly difficult first half of the season, in which only one point was scored.
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The problems started early in the year, leading Aston Martin to postpone performance-oriented updates and first focus on the car’s reliability. The redesigned front has been completely revised with a slimmer nose, which better aligns with the changed dimensions of the front wing and endplates. The nose has also been extended at the tip, allowing it to hang further down. In doing so, Aston Martin follows a similar concept that McLaren developed for 2026.
The front wing itself has also been reshaped. The characteristic outer ‘fold’ has disappeared, and the wing now flows more smoothly upwards towards the endplates. These have also been given a less triangular shape and feature a modified underplate that appears to curve further inwards. With this, Aston Martin aims to better control the airflow around the front of the car. The changes are accompanied by a renewed package of brake ducts and modified deflectors above the front wheels, which should further improve airflow behind the front axle.
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Heavily upgraded floor
However, most of the development seems to be focused on the floor. Aston Martin reports that almost every surface of the floor has been addressed, including the leading edge and the elements designed to optimize airflow under the car. The previously used triangular bargeboard construction has been replaced by a shorter, trapezoidal design, while the underlying elements have also been redesigned to improve front outflow and upward airflow towards the rear. In addition, the floor edge has been made more complex to better manage airflow around the rear tire. The diffuser has also been adjusted to generate more downforce.
At the rear of the AMR26, several changes are also visible. The sidepod air intake has been slightly modified, while the rear wing has received a shorter upper element. Aston Martin has also added extra wing elements on top of the rear wing, similar to solutions previously tested by other teams. According to the team’s technical document, the updates should not only provide more downforce but also reduce drag on straights, thereby improving the balance between different driving modes. The rear suspension, brake ducts, and internal wing elements have also been adjusted to complete the new aerodynamic package.
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