Daily News 19

Tag: Fernando Alonso

  • F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

    F1 Driver Contracts: How Long Is Each Driver Signed For?

    F1 Driver Contracts: When Each Formula 1 Deal Expires

    Details of Formula 1 driver contracts are closely guarded, although the length of many deals is eventually made public. Here is how long each current F1 driver contract is believed to run, along with the potential moves that could shape the grid in the coming seasons.

    McLaren

    Lando Norris — 2030

    The reigning F1 world champion recently announced a new four-year contract with McLaren, keeping him at the team until at least 2030. The agreement is also believed to include clauses that could extend the deal beyond that point.

    Norris joined McLaren as a junior driver in 2017 before stepping up to its F1 team in 2019. He became world champion in 2025.

    Oscar Piastri — 2028

    Oscar Piastri signed a new McLaren contract at the start of 2025, tying him to the team until the end of 2028.

    The Australian made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2023 after a hearing before the FIA Contract Recognition Board settled a dispute between Alpine and McLaren.

    Mercedes

    George Russell — 2027

    Despite Mercedes’ previous pursuit of Max Verstappen, George Russell remains confident in his place at the team. The British driver is contracted through the end of the 2027 season.

    Russell joined Mercedes in 2022 after three seasons effectively on loan at Williams, where he made his F1 debut in 2019.

    Kimi Antonelli — 2027

    Kimi Antonelli is also believed to have a Mercedes contract running until the end of 2027.

    The Italian replaced Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes’ driver line-up after Hamilton left for Ferrari in 2025.

    Red Bull

    Max Verstappen — 2030

    Max Verstappen and Red Bull announced a new contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The agreement runs until at least the end of 2030.

    Verstappen became a Red Bull junior in 2014 and made his F1 debut with sister team Toro Rosso in 2015 at the age of 17. He was promoted to the Red Bull team midway through the 2016 season.

    Isack Hadjar — 2026

    Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull contract is set to expire at the end of 2026 after he joined the senior team from Racing Bulls the previous winter.

    The French driver made his F1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2025 and immediately impressed, highlighted by a podium at the Dutch Grand Prix. His performances led to a rapid promotion to Red Bull for 2026.

    Ferrari

    Lewis Hamilton — 2027

    Ferrari has often declined to reveal the precise length of its drivers’ contracts, but all parties have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s deal runs until at least 2027. With contract clauses taken into account, he signed a three-year agreement when he joined in 2025.

    Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007 and won his first world title in 2008. He moved to Mercedes in 2013 and won a further six world championships during his 12 years with the German manufacturer.

    Charles Leclerc — 2028

    Ferrari announced that Charles Leclerc had agreed to a new contract on the eve of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, saying he would remain with the Maranello team “for the coming seasons”. The deal is believed to keep him at Ferrari until at least the end of 2028, with an option for additional years.

    Leclerc was a Ferrari junior and made his F1 debut on loan at Sauber in 2018. He joined Ferrari’s driver line-up in 2019 and has remained a permanent fixture ever since.

    Williams

    Alex Albon — 2027

    Alex Albon signed a contract extension with Williams ahead of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, keeping him at the team until the end of 2027.

    The Anglo-Thai driver made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2019 before switching to Red Bull midway through the season. Red Bull dropped Albon at the end of 2020, and he spent one year away from F1 before returning to the grid with Williams in 2022.

    Carlos Sainz — 2028

    One day after Albon’s renewal was announced, Carlos Sainz’s future was confirmed with a multi-year Williams contract at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. The deal is believed to run until the end of 2028 and include contract clauses.

    Sainz has raced for almost half of the F1 grid since making his debut in 2015 with Toro Rosso. He switched to Renault in 2017, joined McLaren in 2019 for two seasons and then moved to Ferrari for four years. Sainz joined Williams in 2025.

    Racing Bulls

    Liam Lawson — 2026

    Like many Red Bull youngsters, Liam Lawson has largely worked on one-year contracts, and 2026 is no different. The New Zealander responded well after being demoted to Racing Bulls following just two rounds as a Red Bull driver and secured his short-term future with the team for the season.

    Lawson made his F1 debut in 2023 as an injury replacement for Daniel Ricciardo. In 2024, he permanently replaced Ricciardo at Racing Bulls from the United States Grand Prix, leading to his ill-fated promotion to Red Bull and subsequent return to Racing Bulls in 2025.

    Arvid Lindblad — 2026

    F1’s only rookie on the 2026 grid was handed a one-year contract to prove himself at Racing Bulls.

    The British driver has impressed during his debut season and appears set to retain his place on the grid for 2027.

    Aston Martin

    Fernando Alonso — 2026

    The biggest remaining question surrounding the 2027 F1 grid concerns Fernando Alonso. The 45-year-old agreed to a contract extension in 2024 that will keep him at Aston Martin until the end of the 2026 season.

    Alonso made his F1 debut with Minardi in 2001. After spending one year away from the grid as a Renault test driver, he returned in 2003 for a four-year stint that produced two world titles. Following an unsuccessful 2007 season with McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault for 2008 and 2009 before joining Ferrari for five years. He later had a second spell with McLaren amid its crisis with Honda and left both the team and F1 at the end of 2018. Alonso returned to F1 with Alpine in 2021 before switching to Aston Martin for 2023.

    Lance Stroll — 2026

    Lance Stroll is in the unique position of arguably having a timeless contract because his father, Lawrence Stroll, owns Aston Martin. He could therefore continue racing for the team for as long as both decide.

    A contract announced in 2024 covering “2025 and beyond” guarantees Stroll a place at least through the end of 2026, but the agreement is expected to continue indefinitely.

    The Canadian made his F1 debut with Williams in 2017 and spent two seasons there before joining Racing Point, which was rebranded as Aston Martin in 2021.

    Haas

    Esteban Ocon — 2026

    When Esteban Ocon joined Haas for 2025, the deal was described as multi-year, with options believed to cover 2027. However, neither the driver nor the team has so far indicated that an agreement extending beyond this season is in place.

    Ocon made his F1 debut midway through 2016 as a Mercedes junior with Manor. After the team folded, he joined Force India but lost his place in the line-up during Lawrence Stroll’s takeover at the end of 2018. After a year away, Ocon returned to F1 with Renault in 2020, remaining there until 2024 before moving to Haas.

    Oliver Bearman — 2026

    Oliver Bearman became a full-time Haas F1 driver in 2025, and his current contract is believed to expire at the end of 2026.

    The British driver made a surprise F1 debut for Ferrari as a substitute for Carlos Sainz at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He made two further appearances that year with Haas, driving at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the banned Kevin Magnussen and again for Magnussen at the Brazilian Grand Prix when the Dane was unwell. Bearman became a permanent Haas driver in 2025.

    Audi

    Nico Hulkenberg — 2026

    Nico Hulkenberg joined Sauber in 2025 ahead of its transition to Audi on a multi-year contract. The agreement is expected to carry him into 2027 if both parties agree.

    Hulkenberg’s F1 career began with Williams in 2010. After a year away, he returned with Force India in 2012, joined Sauber for 2013 and reunited with Force India the following year, staying until the end of 2016. Two seasons with Renault ended with Hulkenberg failing to secure a full-time seat for 2020 and 2021, although he made five substitute appearances for Racing Point and Aston Martin. He returned to a full-time F1 seat with Haas in 2023, spending two seasons there before joining the Sauber-Audi project.

    Gabriel Bortoleto — 2026

    Gabriel Bortoleto made his F1 debut with Sauber in 2025 ahead of the team’s transition to Audi. Like Hulkenberg, his contract is described as multi-year and is expected to be extended into 2027.

    Alpine

    Pierre Gasly — 2028

    Pierre Gasly signed a new multi-year contract with Alpine in 2025 that will keep him at the team until at least the end of 2028.

    Gasly made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso as a mid-season replacement in 2017 before completing a full season with the team in 2018. A brief spell at Red Bull in 2019 ended with his demotion back to Toro Rosso, where he remained until the end of 2022. The French driver joined Alpine in 2023 and has stayed with the team since.

    Franco Colapinto — 2027

    Franco Colapinto emerged as one of the biggest winners in a stable 2026 driver market, as limited movement elsewhere gave Alpine the opportunity to assess him. The Argentinian driver has consequently been retained by the Enstone team for 2027.

    Colapinto made his F1 debut with Williams midway through 2024 but found his path to a full-time seat blocked. He switched to Alpine for 2025 and again joined as a mid-season replacement, this time doing enough to secure a full-time contract from 2026.

    Cadillac

    Sergio Perez — 2027

    Sergio Perez secured an F1 comeback with the new Cadillac team on a multi-year contract that will keep him there until at least the end of 2027.

    Perez began his F1 career with Sauber in 2011, impressing enough to earn a McLaren seat for 2013. He moved to Force India in 2014 and played an integral role in saving the team from administration before joining Red Bull at the end of 2020. After a promising start in Milton Keynes, Perez was dropped at the end of 2024 before his contract expired. He spent 2025 away from F1 before returning with Cadillac in 2026.

    Valtteri Bottas — 2027

    Valtteri Bottas also returned to F1 with Cadillac. The Finn has a multi-year contract that is set to run until the end of 2027.

    Bottas made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013 before unexpectedly joining Mercedes in 2017. He helped the team win five constructors’ world championships before moving to Alfa Romeo in 2022. His three-year spell at Alfa Romeo and Sauber ended in 2024, followed by one season away from the grid before he joined Cadillac for 2026.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • From Race Tracks to House Tracks: Why Aston Martin Partnered With Defected Records for an F1 and House Music Campaign

    From Race Tracks to House Tracks: Why Aston Martin Partnered With Defected Records for an F1 and House Music Campaign

    Aston Martin has partnered with British record label and house music specialist Defected Records, bringing together two global fan communities at a time when interest in both Formula 1 and house music continues to grow.

    House music originated in Chicago in the early 1980s and has since become a mainstream genre, with its tracks regularly appearing on charts around the world. It already has a strong connection with Formula 1, frequently appearing in drivers’ social media posts—including those of Oscar Piastri.

    Aston Martin and Defected bring F1 and house music together

    The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has expanded that connection through its partnership with Defected Records, hosting a ‘Driven By Sound’ pop-up in central London for its I/AM members. While the collaboration may initially seem unexpected, the relationship between the two brands is rooted in their shared focus on culture, community and global reach.

    “We want to associate ourselves with iconic properties and Defected absolutely ticks that box,” Rob Bloom, Aston Martin’s Chief Marketing Officer explained.

    “Defected is the belief that house music exists on and off the dance floor, and that community culture is so much more than just the music. We are absolutely in that mindset as the Aston Martin Formula 1 Team, and we want to engage fans and welcome them into our world, whether you go to a Grand Prix or not.

    “The Aston Martin brand is 100 years old, but it’s always been a cultural phenomenon. It existed way beyond its core product, we are very comfortable – in culture – punching outside of category, and that’s the space we play, in which we are so much more than just a car company or motorsports team.”

    Music has long been associated with Formula 1, from Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ to the album created for F1 The Movie. With numerous musical genres available, Aston Martin says house music was a natural choice for the partnership.

    “There’s a natural alignment,” Bloom continues. “If you look at house music and F1, we both bring scale and intimacy. Two global properties, in house music and Formula 1, and there are 825 million F1 fans out there in the world: it’s truly global.

    “But, when you bring fans together at little moments like this, that’s where you get the intimacy. You can have huge global platforms that still have very intimate personal relationships and experiences as part of it.”

    Inside Aston Martin’s Driven By Sound pop-up

    The Soho pop-up gives Aston Martin I/AM members the opportunity to experience the team more closely. Activations include complimentary coffee alongside DJ sets from Sam Divine and RUZE, as well as a run club hosted on Sunday.

    Visitors can also view Fernando Alonso’s race suit and helmet. A sound wall allows guests to hear a combination of team radio, the Honda power unit and radio communications from Aston Martin’s F1 ACADEMY driver Mari Boya.

    “Dance music has evolved a lot since I’ve been doing this,” said Simon Marlin, a house producer from The Shapeshifters. “There’s nothing more unique than finding friends on the dance floor.

    “Defected Croatia is a great example of people that had never met each other 10 years ago, and now are the best of friends, crying with each other because the festival finished this year.

    “That can only happen through shared experiences that are delivered in a way that makes you feel special, that makes you go beyond what you expected. They’re the moments that bring people together, and house music is the biggest and best platform to do that. It’s such a feel-good factor.”

    The relationship between house music and Formula 1 has also developed through collaborations with leading DJs on F1 Tracks, the official Formula 1 playlist. Major artists such as Diplo have performed at events including this year’s Singapore Grand Prix, further highlighting the crossover between motorsport and music.

    That connection could even inspire more drivers to pursue DJing after retiring from Formula 1, following the example of Fernando Alonso’s compatriot Jaime Alguersuari, who now performs under the stage name Squire.

  • Sergio Perez: “I want three more years with Cadillac”

    Sergio Perez: “I want three more years with Cadillac”

    Sergio Perez believes he has “maybe three more years” left in Formula 1 and wants to use that time to help Cadillac establish itself in the sport.

    The Mexican driver left F1 at the end of 2024 after Red Bull released him following a difficult season. Perez had finished second in the 2023 drivers’ championship, but his form declined after a strong start to the campaign. He then slipped to eighth in the 2024 standings, recording only four podium finishes.

    After spending a year away from Formula 1, Perez returned when Cadillac signed him to partner Valtteri Bottas. The new team has opted for an experienced driver line-up as it prepares to enter the championship, with both drivers bringing knowledge of leading F1 operations to the project.

    Sergio Perez embraces Cadillac’s Formula 1 project

    Speaking on the F1 Beyond the Grid podcast, Perez said he is enjoying his role in helping shape Cadillac’s future. He described himself as “more than a driver” because of his involvement in development and the team’s wider direction.

    He added that only a small number of drivers have the opportunity to help build a Formula 1 team from the ground up.

    “I really feel like this is a project. And I really feel like I’m part of this project of this new era, like building something from scratch,” Perez said.

    “Of course, I want to win championships and be fighting at the front. But if you don’t have that opportunity, I think Cadillac, it’s something that motivates me a lot. It’s like building a team from scratch and starting basically from last to see how far we can go together.

    “And like you say, you know, I feel like here I’m much more than a driver. At the same time, they listen a lot to me on different things, on development and stuff. Only a few drivers can get that in their careers, and it’s the first time I can have this.”

    Perez says motivation will determine when he retires

    Perez later discussed his long-term future and explained that the key sign it is time to stop racing will be a decline in his “will” and concentration. He said a driver’s focus on the car, engineers and pursuit of performance eventually reveals whether the desire to compete is fading.

    For now, Perez believes the Cadillac project is providing enough motivation to keep him focused. He estimates that he could have approximately three years of racing remaining before turning his attention to interests outside Formula 1.

    “I think there’s a certain age where you start to drop,” he added. “I think it’s the engine inside you. It’s the will, and you see it from the outside, when you’re not in the car, how much you’re thinking on your engineers, on your car.

    “When you go away and you start thinking less and less on that, that’s the first alarm, I would say. It’s going away. Because when you’re young, all what you’re thinking, it’s what’s coming next, how you will be driving better, what different techniques you can use, and that sort of thing.

    “But as you get older and older – and some drivers are different. Some drivers, it happens at late 20s, mid-30s, mid-40s, and others – we might see Fernando until he’s 60! He’s still driving at a very high level. But I think Fernando is different.

    “He has that engine inside him still. You can see him whenever there is an opportunity, like whenever there is anything he can take advantage of, he still has that.

    “And you can see it. But everyone is different. I don’t think that there is a number, that there is an age. Although Formula 1 is very physical, very demanding, training is not a limitation like other sports, like within football or tennis. Here, I think, it’s more the brain or the vision.

    “I think at the same time, it’s really hard for a driver to realise it’s enough, that I’m not as competitive as I wish or as I want to be and you need to call it off. And I think to take that decision as a driver is not so easy.

    “But at the end, you need to be very honest with yourself and grateful, you know, to that kid that started everything and you need to be able to say, you know, it’s time to do something else.

    “It’s hard to tell you a number. Obviously, I don’t have much in it. Say, maybe three years more. I want to see this project moving forward. I think that requires a bit more time.

    “But yeah, I mean, I respect a lot what Fernando has done in the sport and the motivation he has. But for me, it wouldn’t be that long because I want to do other things out of Formula 1.”

    Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing. Photo by Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images.
  • Aston Martin Warns of Tougher Formula 1 Races Ahead

    Aston Martin Warns of Tougher Formula 1 Races Ahead

    Mike Krack says Fernando Alonso’s ninth-place finish at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix was helped by Zandvoort’s track characteristics, while Aston Martin continues to unlock the full potential of its upgraded AMR26.

    After qualifying 18th, Alonso used an opportunistic one-stop strategy to claim an unexpected ninth place, finishing ahead of a frustrated Pierre Gasly.

    Zandvoort suited Aston Martin’s cornering performance

    Most drivers made two pit stops, but Aston Martin needed to adopt an out-of-sync strategy to benefit from the AMR26’s speed through the corners. The Honda-powered car recovered the time it lost on the straights by performing strongly in the circuit’s slower sections.

    Asked whether Aston Martin’s race pace was stronger than its qualifying pace, the team’s chief trackside officer agreed, while warning that less favourable circuits such as Monza and Baku were next on the calendar. Both venues feature some of Formula 1’s longest straights.

    “Since Budapest we know that we’re a bit stronger in the race,” Krack said. “I think Fernando said today our result will depend more or less on how long the straights are.

    “So these were now two races where the straights were a bit on the short side. So we will have tougher races to come, but I think that this is part of the game. You have races where you’re strong, and you have races where you’re less strong. So it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes.”

    Mike Krack, Chief Trackside Officer of Aston Martin F1 Team

    Photo by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images

    Aston Martin still learning how to use its upgrades

    Aston Martin recorded the second-lowest straight-line speed during qualifying at Zandvoort, reaching 309.5km/h. That was significantly slower than Alpine’s 331.7km/h and only marginally faster than Cadillac’s 309.4km/h.

    The deficit came despite the arrival of Honda’s long-awaited power unit upgrade, which was expected to deliver a substantial performance improvement after the car suffered severe problems earlier in the season. However, the team has made visible progress with the chassis, as demonstrated again in the Netherlands.

    “We get to know this package more and more,” Krack said. “With the large package that we introduced in Budapest, it will take some sessions to learn how to deal with it and to learn how to set it up. And the same goes actually also for the introduction of the power unit now.

    “We need to learn how to use it, we need to learn how to optimise it, and I think it’s going to take us a couple of events, but it was a good step forward.

    Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll both made positive comments over the team radio during the weekend. Krack said those remarks reflected Aston Martin’s growing understanding of its latest package, while acknowledging that the team could not extract its maximum performance in every session.

    “It goes along with what I said in terms of trying to understand the package. If you have changes at this large scale, with the intensity of the sessions, it’s always difficult to get the maximum out of it all the time. And the more sessions we get, the more we will get it under control.

    “But there will always be sessions where you will have a bit more difficulties, some others where it will be easier, and we had quite a good configuration this weekend.”

  • Fernando Alonso: Dutch GP Strategy Shows “I’m a very good driver”

    Fernando Alonso: Dutch GP Strategy Shows “I’m a very good driver”

    Fernando Alonso credited his driving ability after turning an unexpected one-stop strategy into a points finish for Aston Martin at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.

    The Spaniard finished ninth at Zandvoort on Sunday after starting 18th, securing his second points result of the 2026 season following 10th place at Monaco in June.

    Alonso’s recovery was particularly impressive because he completed 34 laps on a set of soft tyres before switching to hard tyres for the remaining 38 laps of the 72-lap race. While several rivals used at least a two-stop strategy, the Aston Martin driver waited patiently behind competitors who had yet to pit before taking advantage of the overcut in clean air.

    “I’m a very good driver,” said Alonso, when asked how he made it work. “That was not the plan. I think the plan was two stops and to go more conventional.

    “But we need to sometimes deviate a little bit from what is normal. When we are in traffic, we cannot use our potential.

    “We are faster in the corners and the people in front of us, we are slower on the straights, and we’re stuck behind.

    “So, as soon as we have free track in front of us, we try to use it, even if it’s not the optimal performance and the optimal strategy and it’s what we did today.”

    Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Alexander Albon, Williams. Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

    Aston Martin upgrades deliver another step forward

    Alonso’s result followed Aston Martin’s introduction of a radically different chassis at the previous round in Budapest and the arrival of an upgraded Honda engine in the Netherlands.

    The updates have helped the British team move away from its previous position as Formula 1’s slowest outfit, a tag now held by newcomer Cadillac. However, Aston Martin’s Zandvoort weekend began with significant difficulties.

    Alonso qualified last for the sprint race, while team-mate Lance Stroll started 19th. Alonso experienced driveability problems because his straight-line mode was not working, contributing to a lock-up at Turn 1.

    The two Aston Martin drivers eventually finished the sprint in 17th and 18th. They then secured more respectable qualifying positions for Sunday’s race, starting 18th and 19th ahead of Haas and Cadillac.

    Alonso expects Aston Martin to be uncompetitive at the low-downforce Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the next round of the season, but said the Dutch Grand Prix still marked “another step forward” for the Silverstone-based team.

    “Especially on the chassis side,” he added. “We brought four or five components here.

    “Also, the Budapest package was understood in the break and with all the data available after the race, we fine-tuned a little bit the set-up around that new spec, plus the new parts.

    “I think, now, we are optimising the chassis side and we are able to extract the maximum.

    “On the engine, it’s more difficult. I don’t think we can be black and white on if we have more power or not.

    “From the driver’s side of things, you change circuit one month after the other race, so the drivability has been a difficult weekend.

    “We’re struggling with the downshift again and we’re struggling with the engine braking corner to corner. So, it was a challenging weekend in that regard.”

  • Fernando Alonso Hailed as “actual GOAT” After F1 Dutch GP: “Just a machine”

    Fernando Alonso Hailed as “actual GOAT” After F1 Dutch GP: “Just a machine”

    Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has once again captured the hearts of motorsports fans, earning widespread praise and the “GOAT” (greatest of all time) moniker after a stellar points-scoring performance at the Dutch Grand Prix. The achievement marks a much-needed turn of fortune for the veteran driver and his Aston Martin team following a highly demanding start to the 2026 season.

    The first half of the 2026 campaign proved incredibly tough for the Silverstone-based squad. Prior to the summer break, Aston Martin struggled with reliability and pace, suffering four grand prix retirements for Alonso and seven for his teammate, Lance Stroll. In response, the team introduced a series of comprehensive aerodynamic upgrades at the Hungarian and Dutch Grands Prix to salvage their competitive form.

    Before the August shutdown, Alonso’s sole championship point came from a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, where several competitors were hit with pitlane speeding penalties. However, at Zandvoort—the first race back after the summer break—the legendary Spaniard showcased his class by securing a hard-fought ninth-place finish, adding two valuable points to his total.

    F1 Fans React to Alonso’s Masterclass

    The F1 community on social media wasted no time celebrating the 45-year-old’s relentless drive. On Reddit, supporters lauded his ability to maximize the car’s potential under difficult circumstances. “Honorary Dutch citizenship for Alonso,” one fan commented on Reddit, while another added: “As soon as he is given even a slightly competent car, he delivers.”

    Reflecting on his charge through the field, another user posted: “P18 to P9 on pure pace (and Verstappen crashing out), finally the AM is something resembling a real car.”

    The sentiment that Alonso remains one of the finest talents to ever grace the sport was a common theme among spectators. “Actual GOAT,” one posted, and someone else wrote: “You can’t spell Fernando Alonso without G.O.A and T.”

    Other reactions highlighted the driver’s uncanny ability to outperform expectations. “He had half a chance of getting 1 point, so he got 2,” noted one fan. Another enthusiast shared their excitement for his future in the sport, writing: “Man, we say it time after time. Alonso is just a machine. Imagine him in a Macca or a Merc. Absolutely insane! I hope he stays for 2 more years and Newey-Honda get their s**t together and give a championship-winning car.”

    Updated Driver Championship Standings

    Following his top-ten finish at Zandvoort, Alonso now occupies 19th place in the drivers’ championship with a total of three points. This places him level on points with 18th-placed Esteban Ocon. Crucially, the Spaniard sits ahead of several key rivals, including Yuki Tsunoda—who filled in for Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for the Dutch Grand Prix weekend—as well as Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez, all of whom currently remain on zero points.