Fernando Alonso set an unprecedented feat by scoring points in Formula 1 at the age of 45, something no driver had achieved since 1974. In Zandvoort, during the Dutch Grand Prix held on August 23rd, the Spanish driver turned 45 years and 25 days old, becoming the first driver aged 45 or older to score points in F1 in 52 years.
The previous record belonged to Graham Hill, who finished sixth in the Swedish Grand Prix in 1974 when he was 45 years, 3 months, and 25 days old, driving a Lola-Ford from his own team, Embassy Hill. Since then, no one has come close to this achievement. In the current century, the closest result was that of Michael Schumacher, who last scored points at the age of 43 in the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Alonso's achievement is worth more than just the placement. He started the race in 18th position but managed to recover nine places over 71 laps, in addition to keeping Pierre Gasly under control through the final corners to secure the two points. This was the best performance for Aston Martin this season and the second-best for the team in 2026.
Up until the Zandvoort race, the Silverstone-based team had accumulated only one point in the year, which was also obtained by Alonso in Monaco. The Dutch race served as the debut for the new configuration of the Honda power unit, which included modifications in combustion, lubrication, friction, and reliability, complemented by the chassis package developed by Adrian Newey in Hungary before the break.
Alonso, however, maintained a cautious view on the performance. He commented that there was a notable advancement, particularly in the chassis aspect, as he introduced four or five other new components in the Netherlands. Regarding the engine, he was more reserved, stating that it was impossible to determine if there was more available power and estimated that the team and Honda would need two or three more races to fully understand the package.
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin's teammate, retired on lap 45.
With this result, Alonso rose to 14th place among the oldest drivers to score in the category's history. Among world champions, he ranks behind only Giuseppe Farina, who scored at age 48 in 1955, Juan Manuel Fangio, at 47 in 1958, and Graham Hill. The absolute record belongs to the Frenchman Philippe Étancelin, who scored points at the age of 53 in the 1950 Italian Grand Prix. Between Hill and Alonso, Maurice Trintignant, who finished fifth at Nürburgring in 1964 at the age of 46, is the closest name.
There is also a little-known fact: Alonso is the only driver to score in every edition of the Dutch Grand Prix since Zandvoort returned to the calendar in 2021.
The future in the category remains uncertain. Alonso's contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of 2026, and the Spanish driver stated in Zandvoort that he needs to discuss things with Lawrence Stroll and Adrian Newey before making a decision. A contract renewal would put him in competition with historical milestones set in the Fangio and Farina era.
