Fernando Alonso will start from 18th place on the grid for the sprint race at Zandvoort (the Dutch Grand Prix venue), after a difficult qualifying session exposed ongoing weaknesses with Aston Martin's new Honda power unit. Teammate Lance Stroll fared little better, lining up 19th, as Lando Norris claimed pole position. The result underscores a troubling run of form for the Silverstone-based constructor, which has struggled to find competitive pace since introducing the updated engine.