Alonso fires shot at rivals: 'There is no money to bring unlimited upgrades like the other teams do'

Aston Martin made it clear a few weeks ago that it would not introduce any major upgrades to the AMR26 before the summer break. Speaking to GPBlog in Austria, Mike Krack reiterated that the team is continuing to work behind the scenes, while acknowledging that several rivals have already brought new developments. He also stressed that the decision to follow a different approach was taken by Adrian Newey, who is leading the project's technical direction.

Speaking to GPBlog in Austria, the Spaniard joked that Aston Martin apparently does not have the budget to bring unlimited upgrades like other teams, saying he is surprised to see so many rival developments listed by the FIA every race weekend: "Apparently there is no money to bring upgrades, unlimited upgrades, like the other teams they do, which is surprising to see the FIA page on Friday every race because maybe they have the money machine in the minus one in the factory."

He then explained that it took Aston Martin the opening three or four races to fully understand the car's weaknesses and limitations before beginning work on potential solutions in the wind tunnel. Alonso added that the team also studied the concepts introduced by its rivals to identify which ones were proving successful, stressing that developing upgrades is a lengthy process and not something that can be done through trial and error.

In Barcelona, the Spaniard suggested the race could be his final home Grand Prix in Formula 1, describing it as a special weekend and saying he wanted to enjoy every moment despite not expecting to be competitive. Alonso reflected on his long history at the Spanish Grand Prix, calling each edition magical and expressing his hope that this one would be no different.

However, speaking to GPBlog in Austria, Aston Martin's Mike Krack offered a more reassuring update on the two-time world champion's future. Krack said Alonso is expected to make a decision around the summer break, adding that the team remains happy with both of its drivers. He also praised the way Alonso has handled the constant speculation surrounding his future and said he hopes they will continue working together.