Alonso praises Verstappen again: "He has reached a level that no other driver has reached"

This is not the first time Fernando Alonso praises Max Verstappen. In Japan, He widely shared his enthusiasm for the Dutchman's pole position : "Only he can do that.", by qualifying the tour of the Red Bull n ° 1 of "magical"After converting his brilliant pole position at Suzuka into victory, the Iberian continued his eulogy to the four-time world champion and hopes he will manage to win the title again this year. "I think he's the best, said the Asturian to the microphone of RacingNews365. I've been saying it for a few years now, he's reached a level that no other driver has reached."

A veteran's opinion

It was in 2001 that Fernando Alonso had his first season in Formula 1, driving a Minardi. At that time, the Spaniard was already rubbing shoulders with Verstappen on the track—obviously not Max, who was only four years old, but Jos, the father of the future four-time world champion. Twenty-four years later, Max is entering his eleventh season in the premier class of motorsport and is aiming for a fifth crown. For his part, Fernando Alonso is still there and at 43, the Bull of Asturias drives for Aston Martin. Thus, the compliments of such a veteran are far from trivial: he has rubbed shoulders with more than one champion. He has experienced in turn the domination of Schumacher, Hag et Hamilton.

“In the last 20 years there have been some years of dominance, with great drivers, great talent and top teams, but the victories have been easy, said the Spaniard, referring to Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel without naming them.. I like it when drivers don't win with the best car. With Max, for part of 2022, the Ferrari was strong, and last year he had serious rivals and of course there was 2021 with Lewis Hamilton." Clearly, for the Bull of Asturias, 2023 aside, the titles of the prodigy Verstappen have more merit than those of the others.

The failed feat of 2012

Brazil, final round of the 2012 season. © Eric Vargiolu / DPPI

For 2025, Max Verstappen definitely doesn't have the best car, and his chances for the title are slimmer than in previous years. Yet Fernando Alonso hopes he can achieve the feat and accomplish what he failed to achieve by just three points in 2012: winning the championship with only the third or fourth best car on the grid. At the wheel of a very temperamental Ferrari F2In 012, the Oviedo native came close to a feat and was able to worry the dominant Red Bull RB8 of Sebastian Vettel, before losing the championship in the final round of the season.

"I've already fought for world championships with the third or fourth slowest car, explained the Aston Martin driver. I think people don't realize how difficult it is and how perfect you have to be every weekend. Max is managing that so far. It reminds me of my 2012 season, when the car wasn't great and we were fighting for the championship. I hope Max can win the championship this year."

After his exceptional performance in Japan, Max Verstappen was unable to repeat the feat in Bahrain. Nevertheless, with a sixth place, he maximized valuable points given the slow pace of his single-seater on the Sakhir circuit.

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