Fernando Alonso Praises Verstappen, Downplays Hamilton and… Read More
Fernando Alonso has once again stirred the pot in the Formula 1 world, this time with high praise for Max Verstappen — while indirectly questioning the legitimacy of the dominance enjoyed by fellow champions Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in past seasons.
Speaking to media during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Alonso described Verstappen as “magical” following the Dutchman’s stunning pole lap at Suzuka. Verstappen’s performance came despite ongoing struggles with Red Bull’s RB21 car, making the achievement even more impressive in Alonso’s eyes.
The two-time world champion from Spain has long been an admirer of Verstappen’s talents, frequently praising the Dutchman over recent seasons. But his compliments often come with a subtle swipe at his former rivals. Once again, Alonso appeared to suggest that Verstappen’s success carries more merit compared to the title-winning runs of Vettel and Hamilton, whose periods of dominance — from 2010 to 2020 — were marked by vastly superior machinery.
Alonso didn’t mention Vettel or Hamilton by name, but his meaning was clear when he commented on how “a couple of years of domination” in the last two decades featured wins that were “on the easy side.” He pointed to Verstappen’s challenges in recent seasons as proof that the Red Bull driver had to work harder for his success.
“I think he [Verstappen] is the best,” Alonso stated. “I’ve been saying this for the last few years now, and he has reached a level that no other driver has. I like it when people are not winning with the best car, and everyone is agreeing on that.”
Alonso emphasized that Verstappen’s championship runs, especially in 2021 and parts of 2022, came in the face of strong opposition. He referenced the intense 2021 battle with Hamilton and the competitiveness of Ferrari in 2022. According to Alonso, only Verstappen’s 2023 title came without significant pressure, as Red Bull dominated that season.
“Max had to fight for his titles,” Alonso added. “In 2021, it was Lewis. In 2022, Ferrari was strong. Even this year, he’s had to work for it. That’s different from what we saw in the past two eras.”
Alonso’s comments are part of a pattern where he downplays the achievements of drivers who benefited from dominant cars, suggesting that raw driving skill, rather than machinery, should be the true measure of greatness. With Verstappen continuing to perform at an exceptional level, Alonso sees him as a standout talent — one who has earned his place at the top through grit and talent, not just engineering superiority.
