Spare a thought for Fernando Alonso castrated by Aston Martin AMR26 sh!tb0x with future bleak

Ferrari introduced a significant upgrade package in Spain, where Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory for the team, while Red Bull brought an extensive list of changes to the RB22 for this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.

Aston Martin, by contrast, have opted against introducing incremental updates, choosing instead to save resources for a larger package expected later in the season.

"I didn't agree with that, but apparently there is no money for upgrades, unlimited upgrades, like the other teams do," Alonso told reporters in Austria. "It is surprising to see the FIA page (with upgrades) every race on Friday. Maybe they have the money machine in the factory basement."

Despite the joke, the two-time F1 world champion backed Aston Martin's long-term strategy, saying the team had carefully weighed the limitations imposed by Formula 1's budget cap: "No, I didn't question that, because of course we don't know exactly what the limitations of the cost cap are.

"How much is going to change on the car and how much time was needed to understand the issues. If you take all that into account, you start working out the improved package, and that naturally takes time."

The Spaniard said Aston Martin reached the decision early in the season and believed it remained the correct approach despite the team's struggles: "The decision has been made, and I think it is the right decision. For us, it makes no difference whether we gain three or four tenths in a Grand Prix and still be driving at the back. We need something bigger than that."

After FP3 today, Alonso ended P21, 3.3 seconds off ther top time at Red Bull ring. Teammate Lance Stroll was a couple of tenths down, slowest of all. Friday sessions were not much better for Aston Martin.

Aston Martin arrived in Austria without any new performance upgrades and endured another difficult Friday, with Alonso finishing 19th in the second practice session, more than three seconds off the pace. The 44-year-old revealed afterwards that his difficult day had been compounded by additional car issues unrelated to the team's overall lack of competitiveness.

"On my side of the garage, there are other problems with the car that we're still investigating. We have to fix them by Saturday. I can't tell you," Alonso told Formula 1's television broadcast.

He said Aston Martin had experimented with the car's setup across both practice sessions but had yet to find a satisfactory direction: "It's been complicated. Nothing really new for us, nothing to learn.

"We experimented a bit with the setup in FP1, and we also made some changes in FP2. We're still not within the optimal parameters, I think, so more changes are needed for Saturday."

Alonso added that Austria's high-altitude circuit had not exposed any fresh concerns with Honda's power unit, despite the manufacturer's drivability issues having hampered Aston Martin earlier this season.

"Handling wasn't a big difference compared to other races, so we don't have any problems in that regard," he said.

Aston Martin, who sit last in the constructors' championship, are expected to introduce their first major aerodynamic package of the season around the Belgian or Dutch Grands Prix as they attempt to move back into the midfield battle.