Fernando Alonso left Zandvoort with something Aston Martin has been desperately short of in 2026: genuine encouragement.
Ninth place may hardly sound like a landmark result for a two-time world champion, but after qualifying 18th and spending much of the season fighting at the wrong end of the field, Alonso’s Dutch Grand Prix offered evidence that Aston Martin may be on the right path with its revamped chassis/engine combo.
The Spaniard’s two points were only his second points-scoring finish of the campaign, but the result was less about fortune than about a smart tactical adjustment from the team.
Aston Martin abandoned its original two-stop plan when Alonso became trapped in traffic, opting instead to exploit the free air ahead of him with a one-stop strategy.
“That was not the plan,” said Alonso. “I think the plan was two stops and to go more conventional.
“But we need to sometimes deviate a little bit from what is the normal things, as when we are in traffic, we cannot use our potential. We were faster in the corners than the people in front of us, we were slower on the straights, and we were stuck behind.
“So as soon as we had free track in front of us, we tried to use it. Even if it's not the optimal performance and the optimal strategy, and it's what we did today.”
Reasons for optimism at Team Silverstone
That willingness to adapt proved crucial. Alonso was able to make his race last while others committed to alternative strategies, ultimately turning a difficult starting position into Aston Martin’s best finish of the season.
It also mattered because the weekend had not begun with much optimism. Honda had brought an upgraded power unit to Zandvoort, yet Alonso and Lance Stroll had both questioned whether the improvement was substantial enough.
©Aston Martin
Against that backdrop, Alonso’s ability to extract a top-10 finish offered a welcome counterpoint.
Asked whether the points were deserved, Alonso was unequivocal.
“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I think we scored one point in Monaco with nine DNFs, and today we scored two points. So, I think it was well-deserved.
“Probably in Budapest, we could have done a little bit better. It will depend circuit-by-circuit, depending on how many straights we have.
“So, I don't expect in Monza to be competitive, but maybe in some other circuits we have another chance to be in the points.”
Read also: F1i Driver Ratings for the 2026 Dutch Grand PrixPerhaps the most encouraging moment of the weekend came after the chequered flag, when Alonso’s radio exchange with Aston Martin team boss Adrian Newey captured a noticeably brighter mood inside the team.
“Well done Fernando, that was a great drive. Very disciplined and a great boost for everybody back at Silverstone. Thank you,” Newey said.
Alonso’s response was equally revealing.
“Yeah, absolutely. Thanks to you guys. Everyone in Silverstone, amazing. Lovely car to drive and more to come, I know.”
A small result with bigger meaning
That final message may be the most significant takeaway from Zandvoort. Alonso is not suddenly predicting a transformation at Aston Martin, and he remains realistic about the challenges ahead.
But after months of frustration, he finally sounded like a driver who believes there is something worth building on.
For a team enduring a difficult season, two points will not change the championship picture. Yet a disciplined drive, an effective strategy and Alonso describing the car as “lovely” are precisely the ingredients Aston Martin needed.
Zandvoort may not have been a breakthrough. But for Alonso, it was a reason to believe one could still be coming.
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