Lando Norris claimed victory in Budapest, but the story of the weekend belonged to Aston Martin. A new B-spec chassis, developed under Adrian Newey, carried Fernando Alonso into Q2 for the first time this season and delivered the team’s first clean double finish, with Alonso 14th and Lance Stroll 13th. Both drivers outqualified the Williams and Cadillac cars, and Alonso even beat a Haas entry — a first for 2026.
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Honda Quietly Tests Its Response
With the chassis now competitive, attention turns to Honda’s power unit, widely believed to be down on horsepower compared to rivals. Team principal Mike Krack said the priority was simply getting both cars racing again, while Alonso described the weekend as proof the team finally understands its development direction rather than “chasing the unknown.”
The Netherlands Becomes a Validation, Not a Debut
Rather than waiting for the Dutch Grand Prix to introduce its upgraded engine cold, Honda confirmed it will run the new specification during a private filming day at the Hungaroring this week — ahead of the summer shutdown. That gives engineers clean data before the power unit’s official race debut, turning Zandvoort into a confidence-building demonstration rather than a first look.
What to Watch After the Summer Break
Monza’s high-speed layout in September should reveal whether Honda has truly closed the gap. If it has, Aston Martin’s turnaround — chassis fixed in Hungary, engine step confirmed at Zandvoort — could make it one of the season’s standout comeback stories.
Do you think Honda’s new power unit will deliver at Zandvoort?
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Aston Martin F1, Honda F1, Hungarian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Adrian Newey, Dutch Grand Prix, F1 2026 Season
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