Alonso on Verstappen: A shared path in Formula 1 – Fernando Alonso has never hidden his admiration for Max Verstappen. The experienced Aston Martin driver sees a clear connection between himself and the four-time world champion from Red Bull Racing. He says that their careers, backgrounds and public perception reveal notable similarities that have shaped their respective journeys in Formula 1.
When fans discuss the most naturally gifted drivers of the modern era, both Alonso and Verstappen are consistently at the top of the list. Their talent speaks for itself on the track, but Alonso argues that their stories run parallel in several meaningful ways. Both reached Formula 1 at a young age after a brief apprenticeship in lower categories. Once they arrived, both were quickly recognised as generational talents capable of winning races and challenging for championships.
Max Verstappen Blown Away by Red Bull–Ford’s 2026 Engine: “This Changes Everything”
Similar Origins and Early Careers
Speaking in the Las Vegas paddock, Alonso reflected on how he and Verstappen both came from countries where Formula 1 had relatively limited mainstream appeal in their early years.
“We both come from countries where interest in Formula 1 wasn’t so strong,” he said. ‘That’s especially true for Spain, because before Max there was Jos, who was a champion [Ed: in lower Formula’s]. I raced against Jos for several years, and I have now been racing against Max for eight years.”
Alonso noted that their rapid rise to the top of motorsport also shaped how they were received by fans and the media. They both arrived as young, highly competitive drivers, unafraid to assert themselves, which sometimes brought them under scrutiny during their early seasons. Despite their early victories and milestones, neither was immediately embraced as a “good guy”, he explained, because their approach did not always align with the sport’s established norms.
A return of a Grand Prix… set to happen?
“You stay true to yourself.”
The Aston Martin driver offered a personal insight into why he believes their perception developed in such a similar way.
“It’s a tough environment. Even if you celebrate a few successes at the beginning of your career, you’re not the good guy,” he said. “Maybe you’re not politically correct; maybe you’re not part of the system. You stay true to yourself more than you should. And I recognised that in Max as well.”
For Alonso, this authenticity is not a flaw, but a defining strength. Remaining true to themselves has helped both him and Verstappen to navigate the intense pressures of Formula 1, enabling them to develop a loyal fan base that appreciates their directness, determination and competitive spirit.
Alonso emphasised that, beyond personality, Verstappen’s results across all levels of motorsport speak for themselves.
“Not just in Formula 1, but in karting and the junior classes too. We all knew this boy would make it. That’s why I have always had great respect for him.”
NEXT ARTICLE – Leclerc repeatedly contacted by another F1 team
The huge fanfare surrounding the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in Maranello was amplified by the fact that Ferrari had the quickest car come the end of 2024. Across the final six race weekends they closed a 74 point gap to the championship leaders, to fall short of the constructors’ title in Abu Dhabi by just 14 points.
Yet 2025 has been a year of misery for the Scuderia and had Mercedes and Red Bull had a second driver contributing anything like the results of their team leader’s Ferrari would now be a distant fourth in this years title race.
Lewis Hamilton has set the record for a Ferrari driver failing to score a podium since arriving with the team and the likelihood he will go all year without making the Sunday presentation remains high.
Leclerc lightning in qualifying
Charles Leclerc, in his seventh year with the Red team has seven podiums from 21 outings, his latest being at the Mexican Grand Prix dominated by Lando Norris. He will complete his 150th start for Ferrari at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, only Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen have racked up more in the team’s 75 year history.
Raikkonen is also the last Ferrari driver to have won the F1 championship, having come from nowhere to pip lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso at the last race in 2007. The Scuderia are experiencing their longest ever drought in winning the constructors’ championship, this year makes the number eighteen years.
The Monegasque driver is regarded amongst the best on the grid, particularly in terms of qualifying. His pole position ratio to F1 race starts sees him just outside the top ten of all time with 27 from 147 entries. Yet with just eight Grand Prix victories to his name, thistles a tale of the Ferrari race cars he has been given.
The recent outburst of the Ferrari group chairman, John Elkann, who called his F1 drivers to “talk less” and “focus more on racing” has been interpreted by many as a not so subtle direction for Charles Leclerc. Whilst Hamilton has admitted his struggles are due to adapting to a new team, Leclerc has been vocal about Ferrari being “not good enough”. His most recent attack on the team was in the media day in Brazil…READ MORE
Sofia Trevena is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with an academic background in cultural studies and published research on global sport. Sofia Trevena examines Formula 1 as both a competitive discipline and a cultural phenomenon, combining scholarly perspective with journalistic analysis.
At TJ13, Sofia covers topics including the global growth of Formula 1, the sport’s cultural influence, and the historical context behind modern developments. Sofia frequently writes on Formula 1 history, drawing connections between past eras and the current competitive landscape.
Her work also explores the broader social dimensions of the sport, including media narratives, fan engagement, and the globalisation of Formula 1 as an entertainment product.
With a deep interest in the sport’s heritage, Sofia provides readers with context that extends beyond race results and headlines.
Sofia aims to highlight how Formula 1 reflects wider cultural and societal trends, offering a perspective that complements technical and news-driven reporting.
