Fernando Alonso believes Formula 1 has always depended heavily on the car but expects the FIA to improve the 2026 regulations in the coming years.

Fernando Alonso has softened his criticism of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, saying the sport has always relied heavily on the quality of the car rather than the driver alone. While the Aston Martin veteran still believes improvements are needed, he remains optimistic that the FIA will continue refining the current rules.

The two-time world champion expects future regulation updates to address several of the issues teams and drivers have identified during the first season under the new power unit era.

Alonso Says the Car Has Always Been the Biggest Factor

Speaking after the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso argued that Formula 1 has never been determined solely by driver talent.

According to the Spaniard, differences in traction, race starts, and corner exits have always depended heavily on each team’s engineering rather than individual driving ability.

He pointed out that throughout his 25-year Formula 1 career, some teams consistently produced cars that launched better than others regardless of which driver was behind the wheel.

Fernando Alonso believes Formula 1 performance has always depended heavily on each team’s car.

Battery Management Still Needs Improvement

Although Alonso defended the traditional importance of car performance, he acknowledged that the 2026 regulations have introduced new challenges.

The increased reliance on electric power and battery deployment has become one of the biggest talking points this season, with several drivers raising concerns about energy management during races.

Alonso believes those aspects still require refinement but noted that discussions about future engine changes have already begun.

Alonso says battery management remains one of the key areas that should improve under the current regulations.

Confidence in the FIA’s Long-Term Direction

Despite the criticism, Alonso remains confident that Formula 1 is moving in the right direction.

He highlighted that the FIA and manufacturers are already discussing adjustments for future seasons, including changes to the balance between combustion engines and electric power.

For Alonso, the willingness to evolve the regulations demonstrates that the sport recognizes its current limitations and is committed to improving the racing product.

The Aston Martin driver expects Formula 1 regulations to continue evolving over the coming seasons.

Alonso Expects Formula 1 to Continue Improving

While debate surrounding the 2026 technical regulations continues, Alonso believes the sport will eventually find the right balance between performance, technology, and competition.

Rather than focusing only on current shortcomings, the Spaniard says he is optimistic that Formula 1’s future rule changes will create a stronger and more competitive championship.

Formula 1 teams must stop developing their cars during the mandatory summer shutdown, but factories remain busy with maintenance and long-term projects.

Every Formula 1 season includes a mandatory summer shutdown, forcing teams to pause development of their race cars for 14 consecutive days. While fans often imagine factories sitting completely empty, the reality is very different.

Although engineers are prohibited from working on car performance, teams use this unique window to complete essential maintenance, facility upgrades, and long-term operational projects before the championship resumes.

F1 Development Comes to a Complete Stop

Under the FIA Sporting Regulations, every Formula 1 team must observe a 14-day factory shutdown during July or August.

During this period, teams cannot perform any activities related to car performance, including:

• Car design and engineering
• Wind tunnel testing
• CFD simulations
• Performance meetings
• Technical discussions by phone or email
• Manufacturing new performance parts

Breaking these rules can lead to penalties from the FIA.

Many teams begin their shutdown immediately after completing post-Hungary activities such as Pirelli tire tests, filming days, or TPC sessions before closing their facilities.

Formula 1 teams must suspend all performance development during the mandatory summer shutdown.

Factories Don’t Actually Stand Still

Although race car development stops, the factories remain active behind the scenes.

According to Mercedes Chief Operating Officer Rob Thomas, around 95% of employees take their holidays, while contractors move into the facilities to complete work that cannot normally be carried out during the busy racing season.

Typical projects include:

• Replacing production machinery
• Servicing manufacturing equipment
• Upgrading electrical systems
• Inspecting heating and air-conditioning systems
• Repainting workshop floors
• Completing building renovations

These improvements help prepare the factory for the second half of the championship.

The shutdown allows teams to modernize factories and service critical equipment.

Some Departments Keep Working

Not every department is affected by the shutdown.

Commercial, finance, marketing, and construction teams are allowed to continue working because their activities are unrelated to vehicle performance.

The FIA relies heavily on teams respecting the regulations, although the constant movement of personnel between organizations also helps discourage rule violations.

Once the two-week shutdown ends, Formula 1 factories immediately return to full operation as teams prepare new upgrades and production schedules for the remainder of the season.

Commercial and facility operations continue while technical development remains frozen.

Honda is preparing a major Formula 1 power unit upgrade for Aston Martin, aiming to deliver a significant performance boost after the team’s latest chassis improvements.

Aston Martin has taken an important step forward with its latest Formula 1 chassis upgrade, but the team’s next leap in performance now depends on Honda. The Japanese manufacturer is preparing a revised power unit that is expected to debut after the summer break, giving Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll a much-needed boost for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Following the team’s extensive aerodynamic update introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix, attention has now shifted toward the engine department.

A New Honda Power Unit Is Coming

After introducing 16 chassis upgrades at the Hungaroring, Aston Martin showed clear signs of progress. Fernando Alonso reached Q2, while Lance Stroll described the package as the biggest update in the team’s history.

The next step will arrive at Zandvoort, where Honda plans to introduce an upgraded power unit expected to deliver between 30 and 40 additional horsepower.

The new engine has already completed a successful filming day at the Hungaroring without reliability concerns, giving both Honda and Aston Martin confidence ahead of its competitive debut.

Aston Martin’s next major performance gain is expected to come from Honda’s upgraded Formula 1 engine.

Honda Admits the Pressure Is Growing

Honda Formula 1 chief engineer Shintaro Orihara acknowledged that expectations have increased now that Aston Martin has improved its chassis.

According to Orihara, every performance gain is now critical if the team hopes to close the gap to the front-running competitors.

The manufacturer believes the upgraded power unit can further reduce lap times now that the AMR26’s aerodynamic package is performing more effectively.

Honda says its upcoming power unit upgrade will play a key role in Aston Martin’s development.

Alonso Highlights the Team Effort

Fernando Alonso emphasized that Aston Martin and Honda are working together rather than placing responsibility on one side.

The Spanish driver explained that Honda focused on addressing engine-related weaknesses early in the season, while Aston Martin has concentrated on improving the chassis and supporting Honda through software development and energy deployment optimization.

Alonso believes both organizations are gradually building confidence, describing the collaboration as the foundation for future progress during the second half of the championship.

If the upgraded engine performs as expected, Aston Martin could become a more consistent contender for points as the 2026 Formula 1 season resumes after the summer break.

Fernando Alonso believes Aston Martin and Honda are making steady progress together.