Key takeaways
- Unplanned one-stop strategy: Fernando Alonso shifted to an unplanned one-stop strategy, extending his opening soft stint to 34 laps before switching to hard tires.
- Capitalizing on clean air: Alonso used clean air to overcome drag issues, as the AMR26 showed strong cornering speed but suffered from low top-speed on the straights.
- First points of 2026: The ninth-place finish at Zandvoort secured Aston Martin’s first points of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship season.
Fernando Alonso converted an improvised race strategy into a ninth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix, earning Aston Martin’s first points of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Speaking after the race, the two-time world champion lightheartedly praised his execution of a one-stop strategy that was not originally part of the team’s pre-race plans.
Aston Martin had entered Sunday expecting a conventional two-stop approach. However, trapped behind traffic early on, Alonso extended his opening stint to 34 laps on soft tires before making his sole pit stop for hard tires, running the remaining 38 laps to the checkered flag.
“I’m a great driver, because we didn’t have this plan in mind,” Alonso joked to reporters after the race. “I think the plan was to do two stops and follow a more conventional strategy, but sometimes you have to break away from the norm. When we’re in traffic, we can’t exploit our full potential.“
Alonso explained that the AMR26’s aerodynamic profile made overtaking exceptionally difficult in dirty air, necessitating a strategy shift to gain track position.
“We are faster in the corners than those ahead of us, but slower on the straights, leaving us stuck behind direct rivals,” Alonso noted. “So as soon as we have clean air ahead, we try to make the most of it, even if it isn’t the ideal performance or strategy on paper, and that’s what we did.“
Alonso’s performance comes as paddock discussions heat up ahead of Monza, with Carlos Sainz placing Aston Martin “in another league” compared to Williams, Alpine extending Franco Colapinto’s contract through 2027, and Italian authorities preparing Imola as a candidate venue for the 2026 season finale.
Formula 1 returns from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of all track action. Follow all updates on our news page.
World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Mercedes | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | 155 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What strategy did Fernando Alonso use to finish ninth at Zandvoort?
Alonso executed an unplanned one-stop strategy, running 34 laps on soft tires before switching to hard tires for the final 38 laps of the Dutch GP.
2. Did Aston Martin score its first points of the 2026 season at the Dutch GP?
Yes, Alonso’s ninth-place finish at Zandvoort secured Aston Martin’s first points of the 2026 World Championship season.
3. When is the next race on the 2026 F1 calendar?
Formula 1 resumes from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
