Cadillac Formula 1 driver Sergio Pérez admits he is wary that Aston Martin’s long-awaited car overhaul at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix could close the performance gap between the two teams and reshape the back-of-the-grid pecking order.
Aston Martin has endured a difficult 2026 campaign with its AMR26. With engine partner Honda also navigating a steep development curve, the team opted to delay bringing major updates until a comprehensive package could deliver a genuine leap forward.
That moment arrives in Budapest, where Aston Martin is introducing a heavily updated B-spec package featuring a redesigned, crash-tested lighter chassis, a new nose, revised rear suspension, and a full aerodynamic overhaul.
Paddock Expectations & Comparative Pace
Paddock rumors regarding the potential lap-time gains for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll vary widely, with some observers suggesting the upgrades could yield up to a two-second per lap improvement.
A boost of that magnitude would be required to leapfrog F1 newcomers Cadillac and move off the final row. During qualifying at Silverstone and Belgium, the fastest Cadillac car was 1.6 seconds and 2.4 seconds quicker than Aston Martin, respectively—though Honda’s power unit deployment deficits accentuated those margins. At tighter tracks like Barcelona and Spielberg, Aston Martin’s deficit was just over a second.
