Alonso buoyed by Zandvoort pace as Stroll targets comeback

Fernando Alonso concluded his day at Zandvoort with a feeling of newfound optimism about Aston Martin’s chances at the Dutch Grand Prix after a standout performance in Friday’s practice sessions.

The two-time world champion clocked the second-fastest time in FP2, splitting the dominant McLarens and signaling that Aston Martin’s recent progress is no fluke.

However, the team’s strong day was marred by a heavy crash from Lance Stroll in FP2, which halted his running but did little to dampen the squad’s confidence in their AMR25’s pace.

Aston Martin’s Resurgent Form

Team Silverstone emerged as the surprise package on Friday, with Alonso trailing McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.087 seconds in FP2. His time placed him three tenths ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, the next non-McLaren driver, and a mere 0.002 seconds ahead of championship leader Oscar Piastri.

The team’s performance builds on their best result of the 2025 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Alonso finished fifth and Stroll seventh.

The tight, twisty Zandvoort circuit, much like the Hungaroring, seems to suit the AMR25, giving Alonso reason to believe that Aston is on an upward trajectory.

“I do [feel more optimistic], for sure. A little bit more optimistic than some of the other Fridays we did.,” he said.

“Hungary was strong for us, and now we're going to the following race in Zandvoort and we're still showing some good pace in free practice. We know it's only free practice, but it's good to see our times up there and let's see what we can do tomorrow.”

Alonso’s comments underscored a growing confidence in Aston Martin’s long-awaited ability to compete at the sharp end of the midfield.

Targeting the Midfield Battle

While Alonso acknowledged McLaren’s dominance, describing a front-row challenge as “not within our reach,” he remained hopeful about mixing it with other top teams.

“I don't think that it's within our reach to fight with the McLarens, but maybe, some of the top teams, Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull don’t seem too far away, so we will try to be in that mix,” he said.

With Red Bull struggling on Zandvoort’s medium-speed corners, Ferrari off the pace so far, and Mercedes within striking distance, Aston Martin has a clear opportunity to capitalize on their rivals’ weaknesses in qualifying and the race.

The Spaniard’s measured optimism reflects a team that has found its footing after a challenging start to the season. Aston Martin’s recent upgrades and strategic focus appear to be paying dividends, positioning them as a dark horse for a strong points haul at Zandvoort.

Stroll’s Crash Overshadows Strong Pace

The mood in the Aston Martin garage was tempered by a dramatic moment early in FP2 when Lance Stroll suffered a heavy crash at Turn 3’s iconic left-hand banking.

The incident, which destroyed the right-hand side of his car, brought out a red flag and ended his session prematurely. Fortunately, Stroll avoided injury, sparing concerns about aggravating past wrist issues.

Reflecting on the crash, he downplayed the incident, stating: “It was just a little lock-up. From there, I was just a passenger. Just one of those things.”

Despite the setback, Stroll shared Alonso’s confidence in the AMR25’s performance. He pointed to the team’s competitive showing throughout the day.

“For sure, we looked competitive throughout the day, and with Fernando in FP2, we're in a good spot, and we'll see what we can do tomorrow.”

Aston Martin will now face the overnight challenge of rebuilding Stroll’s car in time for Saturday’s running, but the team leaves Friday with renewed optimism that its upgrades are paying off at circuits where precision and grip are key.

Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 2 - Results

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook