Adrian Newey believes a major car upgrade planned for the Hungarian Grand Prix could persuade Fernando Alonso to continue racing in Formula 1 through 2027.
Aston Martin is banking on a significant aerodynamic and weight-saving package for next month's race in Hungary. The team has made no major updates in recent weeks while preparing the larger revision.
Newey said the changes target a big performance step while keeping the core chassis and gearbox architecture intact. He noted that re-homologation and crash testing were required after weight reductions to the forward chassis.
"Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade and, if it performs, we hope he'll be in the cockpit for another season," Newey told the Aston Martin website. The 44-year-old Spaniard has expressed a desire to see clear progress before committing further.
Aston Martin's 2026 car has struggled with excess weight, underdevelopment and an uncompetitive Honda power unit, leaving the team behind even the new Cadillac entry.
