News summary
- Fernando Alonso says Aston Martin cannot be satisfied with ninth place despite the progress made with its recent chassis updates.
- The Spaniard believes the team has found the right development direction and is becoming much stronger in the corners after major changes since the Hungarian GP.
- Alonso sees Monza as a more representative test for Honda’s upgraded power unit, with driveability still a major weakness at Zandvoort.
Fernando Alonso refused to celebrate Aston Martin’s progress at Zandvoort and demanded a stronger performance than ninth place. The Spaniard acknowledged the gains made with the team’s recent upgrade package, particularly through the corners, but stressed on Thursday (3) in Monza that nobody inside the team can consider the result satisfactory.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the Italian GP, Alonso said the updates introduced since the Hungarian GP indicate that Aston Martin has found a more effective direction for developing the AMR26. Even so, ninth place at Zandvoort was not enough for the two-time world champion.
“We cannot be happy just with P9, and I think no one is happy in the team. It was a nice boost for everyone knowing that at least the direction that we are taking is the right one, because we changed a lot of things in the car since Budapest. Obviously, we know and we feel that in the corners we are getting in a much better place,” Alonso said.
“That gives hope for everyone in Silverstone that if we keep on going on this philosophy and this strategy and this pace of development, eventually we will be one of the fastest in the corners. So, we tick one of the boxes,” he added.
The situation is less encouraging when it comes to the Honda power unit. Alonso said the upgraded engine did not deliver the level of improvement he had expected at Zandvoort, particularly because of difficulties with driveability.
Honda has acknowledged that driveability remains an area requiring further work after the new specification made its debut in the Netherlands. The manufacturer worked at its Sakura facility between the two races, focusing on combustion control and the consistency of the power unit’s behavior.
“Then on the engine side, I think Zandvoort was not a big improvement, to be honest. The drivability was a problem and the extra power was difficult to feel in Zandvoort,” Alonso said.
“Maybe Monza is going to be a more true test for the engine, but it is still a long way to go. We need to improve on both ends, in chassis and engine, for next year, and it’s a must,” he added.
That makes the Italian GP an important examination for Aston Martin and Honda. Unlike Zandvoort, Monza places far greater emphasis on straight-line speed, power and energy management, leaving less room for the chassis gains to compensate for weaknesses in the power unit. Honda itself identified improved driveability as its main focus for the weekend.
Despite the concerns, Alonso has continued to express confidence in Honda’s long-term project with Aston Martin. The Spaniard said he has no doubts that the Japanese manufacturer can eventually produce a power unit capable of fighting for championships, but wants the development process to move faster.
The Italian GP takes place this weekend, from September 4 to 6, at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 F1 season.
FAQ
1. What position did Fernando Alonso finish in at Zandvoort?
Alonso finished ninth at the Dutch GP, scoring two points and securing Aston Martin’s best result of the 2026 season so far.
2. Why is Alonso not satisfied with ninth place?
Although Aston Martin has made significant progress with its chassis, Alonso believes the team still needs to become much more competitive and improve both the car and Honda power unit.
3. Why is Monza important for Honda?
Monza’s long straights and high full-throttle percentage put greater emphasis on power and energy deployment, making it a more revealing test of Honda’s upgraded power unit than Zandvoort.
