Tech F1i: Aston Martin details extensive AMR26 upgrade package

Aston Martin has rolled out a new car in all but name at the Hungarian Grand Prix, effectively transforming its AMR26 with a major B-spec package designed to unlock performance and lay the foundations for the second half of the season.

The Silverstone-based squad has brought no fewer than 16 declared upgrades to the Hungaroring according to the documents submitted to the FIA, with changes spanning almost every key aerodynamic area of the car.

The scale of the package underlines Aston Martin’s determination to recover ground after a catastrophic campaign and comes ahead of an even more extensive development step expected at Zandvoort after the summer break.

Rather than a simple collection of small refinements, the update represents a comprehensive redesign philosophy, with the team targeting improvements from the front of the car all the way through to the rear wing.

Aston Martin's AMR26 aero overhaul

The front of the car has received significant attention, with Aston Martin introducing a redesigned nose and front wing package aimed at improving overall front-end performance when combined with the rest of the new components.

The team has reshaped the front wing and its endplates while introducing a “longer, thinner nose” as part of the aerodynamic overhaul. The external front brake ducts have also been modified to work alongside the new front-end concept, helping manage airflow around the front wheels.

Aston Martin’s floor represents another major focus area. The team grouped four separate floor changes together as a package designed “to increase the load on the floor”.

The floor body has been altered across “all of the permitted surfaces” in a bid to “increase the load on the floor”, while changes have also been made to the floor leading edge vanes and the floor edge ahead of the rear tyre. The diffuser has also received a complete update as part of the same aerodynamic effort.

Rear-end changes complete AMR26’s transformation

The updates continue through the car’s bodywork, with Aston Martin revising the sidepod inlet “in line with the bodywork package” and making subtle adjustments to the coke section and engine cover.

Those modifications are aimed at improving airflow towards the rear of the car while complementing the revised floor concept.

The team also introduced new cooling louvres, describing them as “conceptually similar” to the existing design approach, while the rear suspension and rear corner areas have both undergone “subtle changes” developed together.

At the back of the AMR26, Aston Martin has redesigned its rear wing package with the dimensions redistributed “between the three elements”. Winglets have been added to the trailing edge of the rear wing flap, with the objective of increasing cornering performance while reducing drag in straight-line configurations.

The team said the rear wing updates are intended to “increase corner mode load while reducing straight mode drag”

The rear wing brace and endplates have also been completely redesigned, completing one of the most extensive upgrade packages introduced by any team this season.

McLaren begins two-stage upgrade push

While Aston Martin leads the update list in Budapest, McLaren has also brought meaningful changes as part of a two-part development programme that will continue at Zandvoort.

The reigning constructors’ champions have introduced revisions to the rear wing endplate, along with a new floor and floor board designed to extract additional aerodynamic performance.

McLaren has also modified its “front corner furniture” to improve airflow around the front tyre and enhance brake cooling, including a larger front brake cooling exit. A revised rear corner completes the package, targeting improved aerodynamic load.

With the Hungaroring’s tight, low-speed nature demanding high downforce levels, rear wing development has been a common theme throughout the paddock.

Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari chase extra downforce

Mercedes has introduced changes focused on increasing aerodynamic performance and managing temperatures. The team added an additional central winglet and a tail winglet integrated into the rear wing brace, targeting extra downforce and drag.

The Silver Arrows have also widened the engine cover exit to improve cooling efficiency at a circuit where airflow demands can be challenging.

Red Bull has revised its rear wing flaps by adjusting camber and chord to generate additional load, while the rear wing pylon has also been modified to improve stability.

The RB22’s diffuser has been expanded to increase local aerodynamic load, giving the team another tool for extracting performance around the slow corners of the Hungaroring.

Ferrari has focused its efforts on rear wing flexibility, introducing trailing edge devices, reshaped endplates and an “optional winglet cascade” that can be used if additional downforce is required.

With the Hungarian Grand Prix traditionally rewarding aerodynamic efficiency and cornering grip, teams have arrived in Budapest prepared for a development battle — but Aston Martin’s sweeping AMR26 transformation stands out as the weekend’s most ambitious upgrade gamble.

Read also: All eyes on Aston Martin and Newey as team rolls out B-spec car

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