Lance Stroll makes 'huge' Aston Martin claim: 'Maybe in the history of this team'

Lance Stroll has described Aston Martin's Hungaroring upgrade as potentially the most encouraging development package "in the history of this team" after the Silverstone squad's miserable start to the F1 season.

Aston Martin scored just a single point across the first 11 rounds of the campaign and sat rock bottom of the constructors' championship before introducing a comprehensive 16-component B-spec package in Hungary.

But the scale of the upgrade has shifted the mood entirely, with Stroll convinced the revised AMR26 represents a genuine turning point.

"It was the most encouraging upgrade we've had, I think, in a really, really long time, maybe in the history of this team," Stroll told media, including RacingNews365. "So, really good."

The scale of the overhaul was vast. A lightened, re-homologated chassis and gearbox sat alongside a near-complete aerodynamic rework covering a new nose, front wing, floor, diffuser, sidepods, engine cover and rear wing assembly.

Independent performance analyses estimated the package was worth roughly 1.4 to 1.8 seconds per lap in qualifying trim, though no official figure has been confirmed by the team.

Before the weekend in Budapest, Fernando Alonso's solitary point, for P10 at Monaco, was all Aston Martin had to show from 11 rounds. Reliability issues – emanating predominantly from the battery of the Honda power unit — in the early flyaway races compounded a fundamental lack of car pace.

However, the Hungaroring, while not yielding points with Stroll and Alonso finishing P13 and P14, respectively, offered tangible evidence of progress.

"We took a huge step [at the Hungaroring]," the Canadian said. "We're not in the front of the midfield, but in the mix.

"We know we need to find a lot of power and just keep finding performance; more downforce, more power, and just have to keep pushing forward."

Eyes on Zandvoort and the Honda engine step

Attention now turns to the Dutch Grand Prix, where Honda will introduce a significantly reworked internal combustion engine for its first Aston Martin power unit.

The update, Honda's first under Formula 1's ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) concession system, targets combustion efficiency and friction reduction, with reports suggesting a gain of between 30 and 50 horsepower.

Stroll is cautiously optimistic, but realistic about where the power deficit still leaves Aston Martin.

"We're going to find out at Zandvoort, the step you make with the engine," the three-time podium finisher said.

"And then it's still going to be a bit circuit dependent. I think even with the step of the engine, will we be as quick as Mercedes? I hope, but probably not so likely.

"So Baku, Monza, those power circuits will be more difficult. We have to try and take advantage of the circuits where it's less about the engine, more about the grip in the corners."