Fernando Alonso scores points at Dutch Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso secured a ninth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, marking a historic achievement for the veteran driver. By scoring points in this race, the two-time world champion became the first driver over the age of 45 to score points in a Formula 1 race since Graham Hill did so at the 1974 Swedish Grand Prix.

Alonso’s performance was driven by a high-risk, single-stop strategy. After starting from 18th on the grid, he managed to complete 34 laps on soft tires before switching to hard tires for the remainder of the 72-lap race. This allowed him to capitalize on clean track conditions while competitors utilized more conventional two-stop strategies. Alonso attributed the success to his ability to manage the car and exploit open track space, noting that the strategy was an adaptation to avoid being stuck in traffic.

The result follows recent technical updates from the Aston Martin team, including a new chassis and an updated Honda engine, which have contributed to improved performance on the track.