Fernando Alonso feels Max Verstappen pain as Red Bull demand….read more
Fernando Alonso empathizes with Max Verstappen’s current situation, drawing a parallel with his own experience in the 2012 Formula 1 season when he fought for the World Championship despite driving one of the slower cars on the grid. Alonso’s comments came after Verstappen delivered an exceptional performance at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he took pole position and secured the victory despite McLaren appearing to have the faster car. Verstappen’s victory was one of his career’s best, showcasing his ability to extract the maximum from his car, and Alonso couldn’t help but compare this performance to his own struggles and triumphs in 2012.
Alonso, who currently races for Aston Martin, expressed admiration for Verstappen’s abilities, especially in a season where Red Bull has dominated, but where Verstappen has had to deal with significant pressure to maintain peak performance. Speaking after the Japanese GP, Alonso praised Verstappen’s pole lap as “magical,” referring to the narrow margin by which he denied Lando Norris by just 0.012s. In the race itself, Verstappen not only secured pole but also went on to win, extending his already impressive career tally of wins. By doing so, Verstappen now boasts 32 career wins, surpassing Alonso’s own tally.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Alonso drew a comparison between Verstappen’s challenges and his own in 2012 when he was driving for Ferrari. That year, the Ferrari F2012 was far from the fastest car on the grid, but Alonso managed to extract maximum performance from it, securing three race victories and coming agonizingly close to winning the title. The championship fight in 2012 was one of the closest and most intense in recent F1 history, with Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull eventually winning the title by just three points after a late-season surge that saw him secure four consecutive victories. Alonso recalled how difficult it was to compete for the title with a car that was not up to the level of the competition, but his determination and driving skill allowed him to remain in the hunt until the very end.
Alonso explained that despite the underperformance of the Ferrari F2012, he and his team worked relentlessly to make the car as competitive as possible. He emphasized how important it is to extract perfection from the car every weekend, a sentiment he shared in relation to Verstappen’s ability to perform week in and week out in a car that, at times, was not the quickest on the grid. Alonso’s admiration for Verstappen’s consistency and skill was clear, as he acknowledged the challenge Verstappen faces in trying to secure his title while also dealing with the pressure of a demanding car and constant competition from other teams.
Alonso also noted that Verstappen, despite driving one of the fastest cars on the grid, still has to push to the limit every race. He pointed out that it is not just about having the best equipment, but also about the mental and physical fortitude to perform at the highest level consistently. He hoped that Verstappen would be able to continue his pursuit of the World Championship until the end of the season, though he recognized that Red Bull’s car would need some improvements to ensure Verstappen can maintain his advantage and fight for the title until the final races.
In contrast, Alonso’s own season has not been as successful. At the Japanese GP, he finished in 11th place, marking his worst season start since 2017, when he was with McLaren. That year, he faced a series of difficulties, including two retirements and a lowly 14th place finish in the opening rounds. This season, Alonso has struggled to find the pace and results he had hoped for with Aston Martin, a team that showed great promise at the beginning of the year. Despite these challenges, Alonso remains optimistic and continues to push forward, hoping for better results in the remaining races of the season.
In summary, Fernando Alonso’s reflections on Max Verstappen’s current championship fight serve as a reminder of the difficulties he himself faced in 2012. Both drivers have had to contend with cars that were not the fastest on the grid but managed to achieve remarkable results through their talent, determination, and consistency. Alonso’s empathy for Verstappen highlights the universal challenge of fighting for a title under such pressure, and while Verstappen’s current situation is different from Alonso’s 2012 season, the two share a common ability to get the best out of less-than-ideal machinery.
