Max Verstappen is “one of the best drivers in the history of the sport,” according to Fernando Alonso, who didn’t hold back when explaining what makes the Dutch champion so special.
“He’s able to extract the maximum from the car,” Alonso told GPblog before the Austin race weekend.
The Spanish veteran pointed out that Verstappen’s talent goes far beyond just having the fastest car on the grid.
“When the car is dominant, he can win championships and break records. And when the car isn’t the fastest, he still delivers that perfect qualifying lap or puts up a good fight in the race,” Alonso explained.
He’s impressed by how Verstappen handles being the underdog.
This year, Max faces an uphill battle against McLaren, which currently has the faster package. But Alonso warned that counting Verstappen out would be a mistake.
“If it comes down to the last race with points close together, Max becomes the man to watch,” he said.
We’ve seen it before. Alonso reminded everyone about Abu Dhabi 2021, when Verstappen snatched the championship from Lewis Hamilton despite Mercedes having the better car in the final races.
“The two McLarens have enough advantage to fight between themselves. But with Max, anything can happen.”
Alonso also weighed in on Verstappen’s chances for 2025. While he considers the McLaren drivers favorites, he believes if anyone can flip a settled season on its head, it’s Max.
If Verstappen pulls it off next year, he’d join an exclusive club of five-time world champions – pretty remarkable company for a driver still in his twenties.
