Aston Martin's B-spec upgrade key to Fernando Alonso's 2027 prospects

Aston Martin has struggled in the opening ten races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, sitting tenth in the Constructors’ Championship with just one point, earned by Fernando Alonso in Monaco. The team’s partnership with Honda has been criticized; team principal Mike Krack said the squad might have chosen a different engine supplier if it had known the Honda power unit’s true performance levels. Former Haas boss Günter Steiner called any significant gain from the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix update "nothing short of a miracle".

The team is set to debut a heavily revised chassis, the AMR26B, at the Hungarian Grand Prix – a B‑spec package that replaces major structural components and adds a new Honda power unit. Success of this upgrade is seen as decisive for Alonso’s future with the team; a competitive car could keep him at Aston Martin through 2027, while continued under‑performance could prompt a move to Alpine or retirement.

Support for Alonso remains strong within the sport. Former world champion Jenson Button praised Alonso’s talent, stating that a competitive car would allow the two‑time champion to win again. The FIA has scheduled press conferences for Alonso and technical director Adrian Newey ahead of the Hungarian round, underscoring the spotlight on the team’s turnaround.

Overall, the performance of the AMR26B and the evolving Honda partnership will shape both Aston Martin’s competitiveness and Alonso’s career decisions for the next few seasons.