Formula 1 pundits have rated Fernando Alonso's performance at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort as the second-best of any driver on the grid, according to Spanish broadcaster LaSexta.
The assessment places the Aston Martin driver behind only the race winner in the experts' rankings for the weekend, with Alonso's showing singled out for praise despite the team's ongoing struggles with the AMR26 car.
The recognition comes amid wider discussion about Aston Martin's 2026 challenger. Spanish sports daily MARCA has reported that the AMR26 still faces a significant hurdle in the form of handling characteristics, a weakness that Alonso will need Honda's power unit to help address.
Alonso's former teammate Pedro de la Rosa, speaking to DAZN, has also credited the two-time world champion's strategic instincts during the Zandvoort weekend. De la Rosa admitted that the team had not anticipated scoring points at the circuit, describing Alonso's race-craft as decisive in making the result possible.
Spanish outlet La Vanguardia has framed the weekend as something of a minor miracle for Aston Martin, noting that the team brought a new chassis to Zandvoort while relying on Alonso's experience to extract the most from it.
El Confidencial, meanwhile, has questioned whether the upturn represents genuine progress or a mirage, asking when — if ever — Aston Martin's development will deliver consistent results.
The mixed coverage reflects a team caught between short-term gains and long-term rebuilding. Alonso's individual brilliance continues to mask the AMR26's limitations, but the underlying issues remain unresolved.
The next race weekend will show whether Zandvoort was a genuine step forward or a one-off result driven by driver skill rather than car performance.
