Marko attributes Aston's resurgence to Newey's contributions.

      "At Spa, they finished either last or second to last."

      Fernando Alonso's quick bursts of speed at Zandvoort have reignited discussions regarding Aston Martin's rapid improvement. Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko indicated that the team might finally be benefitting from Adrian Newey's arrival earlier this year, which could also shed light on Red Bull's own challenges. "I’m not certain," he told Sky Deutschland, "but Newey is always an advantage. The progress they’ve made is significant. At Spa, they were at the bottom of the standings, and now they’re consistently earning points. I’m convinced that there’s someone there who has made a difference."

      In practice, Alonso even seemed like the closest competitor to McLaren for the Dutch GP, but he ultimately qualified in P10. The 44-year-old Alonso acknowledged that fuel load might have flattered his earlier performance, also mentioning his own role in creating a buzz on Friday. "I have the experience to quickly adapt to the circuits and the car," he told DAZN. "In Q1 and FP1, I don’t require much time to reach full performance, while others continue to improve, and this ultimately positions you according to the car’s potential. Here, that means P10."

      This result was still far better than that of his teammate Lance Stroll, who wrecked one chassis in practice and crashed the replacement during qualifying. "I don’t really have anything to say," the Canadian lamented. "I just hit the grass with my wheel. I made a mistake. Yeah, it’s disappointing. It is what it is."

      Stroll has long faced scrutiny regarding his motivation, talent, and attitude, with rumors earlier this year suggesting his absence from a race was due to a tantrum that aggravated an injury to his wrist. Veteran Brazilian journalist Reginaldo Leme has further ignited these speculations, stating, "Stroll requested permission to retire in 2023 and 2024," he mentioned on the Automotor podcast. "I learned about this during my recent visit to Spa. However, his father did not permit it."