Fernando Alonso (P2, Fastest lap, 19 pts): 9/10
It seems an age since we were agape at Fernando Alonso's remarkable run of success at the start of the season. Since then, Aston Martin have somewhat dropped the ball when it comes to development and they've slipped behind the likes of Mercedes and McLaren. But the summer break seems to have rejuvenated them, and what we got in Zandvoort was more like the Alonso of those early outings. He started the weekend second quickest in first practice, and he showed a sure hand in steering his way into the final round of qualifying where he secured fifth place on the grid and half a chance of maybe, possibly picking up a podium in the absence of the likes of Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Like pole sitter Max Verstappen, he waited an extra lap to pit for intermediate tyres when the rain began to fall at the start of the race and as a result didn't pick up much of an initial advantage; but he was up to third place after a second stop to return to soft tyres on lap 10 and he then spent the whole of the next stint with the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Sergio Perez ahead, and Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz running immediately behind. When he made his second scheduled stop on lap 48 he was irked to come out behind Sainz who had successfully undercut him. The old Alonso fire was ignited: this would not stand, he seemed to shout, and very soon he was back ahead of the Ferrari in no uncertain terms. Third place and a podium was acceptable, but then the rain resumed and Perez ran off at turn 1 before the red flag: Alonso said thank you very much, I'll take second. He thought better of lunging at Verstappen for the lead at the restart: with age comes the wisdom and experience of knowing when to pick your battles, and when to simply take what's on offer and celebrate.
Max Verstappen (Pole, P1, 25 pts): 9.5/10
A third successive Dutch Grand Prix victory, and a record-equalling ninth race win in a row, all in front of a fervently adoring orange army of home fans at Zandvoort. And for once, Max Verstappen was made to work for it - even though the outcome was never really in doubt. He was quickest in first practice but pipped by Lando Norris in FP2 by a slender 0.023s. Verstappen was back in charge for final practice this time ahead of George Russell, and when it came to qualifying there was no question of who would take pole - but Norris and Russell were again his nearest challengers. However the line-up was disrupted when rain started to fall right at the start of he race on Sunday: Verstappen delayed a lap too long before pitting for intermediates by which time Norris and Russell were out of the picture and Sergio Perez was in the lead having started from P7. However the Mexican didn't have anything like the same pace, and Verstappen was allowed to pit first for a return to slicks which allowed him to undercut his team mate and retake the lead - which he held for the rest of the race, even when the rain resumed and forced a red flag followed by a six-lap sprint finish. He would have kept a wary eye on Fernando Alonso at the restart but in the end everyone played nice and were all big pals as they celebrated on the podium. Of course, there was no question about who the fans in the grandstand were cheering and singing their support for.
