Alonso on the title fight: "If anyone can turn this around, it's Verstappen"

The performance of Fernando Alonso The start of 2023 seems a long way off today. At the time, the Bull of Asturias had seven podiums in eight races and was shining at the start of the season, where he was the only opponent of the Red Bull.

Since this cannonball start to the season, the Spaniard has regressed at the rate of his car, slowly relegated to the heart of the pack, or even to the bottom of the table. But the real challenge for Aston Martin lies in the new 2026 regulations, where the Silverstone firm has invested enormously, with XXL recruitments (Adrian Newey, etc.) and massive investments (brand new factory inaugurated in recent months).

While waiting to return to the forefront of the stage - perhaps - and chase down that 33rd victory that has eluded him since 2013, the forty-year-old is assailed by questions about the current fight between the players of his former team, Oscar piastri et Lando Norris (McLaren). But the two Papayes have a thorn in their side - and what a thorn! The four-time defending champion Max Verstappen has come back like a shot since the summer break and has finished ahead of the McLarens in the last three races.

"It's hard to say," tempers Fernando Alonso when asked about the identity of the future world champion. "Both McLarens have a slight advantage thanks to their points. But Max is an incredible driver: if anyone can turn things around, it's him."

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Verstappen not the favorite, but…

"It's just that he's one of the best drivers in the history of this sport. He's able to extract the maximum from the car," continues Alonso. “When the car is dominant, he can win the championship and break several records during the season. And when the car is not as good, or not the fastest, he still manages to put out a good qualifying lap, a good race, a good fight. So yes, he is at a very good level, a very high level. And this year, obviously, he is fighting against a superior car, which is the McLaren.”

"But hey, if it comes down to the last race or something, and they're tied on points, maybe then he'll become the man to watch," assures the Spaniard. However, Alonso is not gullible: McLaren are favorites with a 63-point lead over Verstappen for Piastri, leader, and 41 for Lando Norris, a solid second. "I think the McLarens have enough of an advantage with their car to fight each other," predicts the double world champion. “But with Max, anything can happen, as we saw in 2021: when the car was a little less efficient than the Mercedes, he still won the championship in Abu Dhabi.

Coming back from that far back would be a monumental feat for Verstappen, who would become only the second driver to win five world championships after Michael Schumacher from 2000 to 2004.