According to Fernando Alonso, we should not yet rule out Max Verstappen for another world title. The Dutchman has a chance this year to win his fifth consecutive championship – a feat only ever achieved by Michael Schumacher with Ferrari. However, Verstappen currently lags significantly behind rival McLaren. Due to a costly time penalty in Spain, he is already 49 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
“I don’t think much has changed this season compared to other years,” a sober Fernando Alonso told British DAZN. “I think Verstappen is driving his best season yet every year,” Alonso praised his Red Bull rival. “In 2021, he snatched the championship from Lewis Hamilton in the last race, and from that moment on, he dominated for several years in a row.” However, the Dutchman faced more opposition last year. Particularly in the second half of the season, McLaren challenged him for the crown, but Lando Norris failed to keep him from the title.
‘It’s now up to Red Bull’
This year is different. Since the opening race in Melbourne, McLaren has had the most competitive car, causing Verstappen to fall back to third place in the standings. The gap with Piastri and Norris is now 49 and 39 World Championship points, respectively. Nevertheless, Fernando Alonso is impressed by what Verstappen is achieving. The Red Bull driver has already won two Grands Prix, in Japan and in Imola.
“This year, he may not even have a car that belongs to the top two or three, and yet he is still involved in the title fight,” the Spaniard stated. “He always performs at the highest level. It’s now up to Red Bull to give Verstappen a car with which he can really fight for the championship, but you never have to doubt him,” Alonso concluded.
