It normally shows three choices. Even if one is significantly slower it still tends to show it.

I just did Birmingham to Newcastle and got similar results. About 3 1/2 hours by the M42 and A1, another route that detours into Sheffield and Leeds but is only slightly slower, but then a route via the M6 to Carlisle and A69 that’s more like 4 1/2 hours.

If for whatever reason you wanted to avoid that section of I45, or I wanted to avoid the A1, those routes are offered.

Android has consistent “back” functionality pretty much everywhere, either with the traditional button or with a gesture. I really missed that when I switched to iPhone, and still do a bit.