Fernando Alonso names 'most important' expectation from Aston Martin upgrade

Fernando Alonso has named his most "important" expectation from Aston Martin's huge upgrade when it is delivered. 

This weekend's Belgian GP is set to be Aston's final race without any upgrades as the team prepares to bring a huge package to the Hungarian GP. 

The team was required to re-homologate the forward chassis owing to a major weight reduction programme, with a major overhaul of the aerodynamic surfaces also set to be deployed, with a gain of nearly one second in lap-time from the chassis alone rumoured. 

Engine partner Honda is also to deliver a new power unit from the Dutch GP after the summer break to add to the optimism for the team, with veteran Alonso explaining how the looming upgrades could present "a very clear path" for the team.

"It is important to see that the direction we took and all the time since Bahrain, after the team made a decision to wait for a proper package to be introduced," Alonso began to media, including RacingNews365.

"We did not know if it was going to be race seven or race 12 or at the end of the year, but we knew that our starting position was not good enough, that we were lacking downforce, power, gearbox, and experience with all these kinds of things.

"So we needed to regroup and make a plan. The fans want us to win races and fight for the championship, but this year, whatever the upgrade is and whatever we can improve, it will not be enough; we will always miss an extra package. 

"We are working night and day to improve the car, we will get better, we will win races, but not this year.

"This is only the first step; it cannot be the last one, so for me, it is important to feel in Hungary that we are understanding what the weaknesses of the car are, and that we are tackling them, especially on the aero package.

"This is the first one which is coming, and we are struggling with very specific things this year behind the wheel, and if those are improved in Hungary, and we can drive the car to the maximum, then I think there is a very clear path and a good momentum that we can take for next year.

"For me, that is the most important thing."