Alonso: 'More to come' after Aston Martin's Dutch GP points

Fernando Alonso left Zandvoort with something Aston Martin has been desperately short of in 2026: genuine encouragement.

Ninth place may not sound like a landmark result for a two-time champion, but after qualifying 18th and spending much of the season at the wrong end of the field, it was evidence that the team’s revamped package may be heading in the right direction.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin has scored points only twice this season, so this result is less about the championship and more about momentum. Alonso’s ability to turn a poor starting spot into a clean top-10 finish — and his upbeat radio exchange with Adrian Newey — suggests the team has something to build on.

The details:

• Alonso’s two points were only his second points-scoring finish of the campaign, after a single point in Monaco.
• The result came through strategy. Aston Martin abandoned a planned two-stop when Alonso got trapped in traffic, using free air to make a one-stop work.
• “We were faster in the corners than the people in front, slower on the straights, and stuck behind,” Alonso said. “As soon as we had free track, we tried to use it.”
• The weekend had started with doubt: Honda brought an upgraded power unit, but Alonso and Lance Stroll questioned whether it was enough.
• Newey’s radio message captured the mood: “Well done Fernando... a great boost for everybody back at Silverstone.” Alonso replied: “Lovely car to drive and more to come, I know.”

What's next:

Alonso remains realistic. He does not expect Aston Martin to be competitive at Monza, but believes some circuits could offer another chance at points. Zandvoort may not have been a breakthrough, but it gave the team a reason to believe one could still be coming.