Alonso remains optimistic despite the setback with Honda.

      "Everyone is very motivated at this point."

      Fernando Alonso states that Aston Martin's latest chassis package has finally provided the team with a clear direction, despite Honda's new engine not meeting all expectations at Zandvoort. The Spanish driver was pleased with the car's performance during the race and believes the chassis now demonstrates much better handling as tyre grip starts to diminish. "I think we’ve brought more parts here, improved the car, and enhanced the chassis," the 45-year-old remarked after earning two points on Sunday. "It’s a step forward in that regard. As the tyres wear and when the car becomes less dependent on grip, the quality of the cars becomes clear, and the Aston stands out in that aspect."

      Alonso noted that the crucial factor is that the new package seems fundamentally sound. "If we had introduced this package and found we weren’t performing well in corners, that would have been a cause for concern. Now that we have a clear direction, it’s about optimizing and putting in full effort on this package." "Everyone is very motivated at this point. This outcome means both factories will start work at eight o’clock tomorrow, as everyone is eager for more."

      The outlook regarding the engine is less encouraging. "We need to see how the engine performs," explained Alonso after Honda rolled out its much-anticipated Spec 2 engine over the weekend. "I don’t believe it delivered the results we were anticipating this weekend." Alonso added that some of the drivability improvements achieved with the original Honda unit seem to have been lost with the new specification. "We’ve lost that drivability, that gear change; everything we had improved with the first engine has somewhat reverted with this second one."

      Honda's chief engineer Shintaro Orihara acknowledged the same issue. "We recognize that there is potential for improvement in drivability, and this remains critical for us as we approach the upcoming races," stated the Japanese engineer. Nevertheless, Alonso believes the package still has the potential to develop further. "We have about two or three races ahead of us to optimize it."