Alonso jokes at Hamilton’s expense praising ‘underestimated’ F1 rival Verstappen

Follow us on Google Discover

Fernando Alonso has joked at Lewis Hamilton’s expense whilst explaining why Max Verstappen is ‘so dominant’ in F1 yet the Red Bull driver remains ‘underestimated’.

The 25-year-old took his 11th win of the season and ninth in a row at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix. Verstappen overcame the variable conditions to beat Alonso to the line following a late red flag at Zandvoort. It meant the Dutchman matched Sebastian Vettel’s win-streak record.

Verstappen can now take the record outright should he make it 10-in-a-row at this Sunday’s Italian GP. He has driven in a class of his own so far this year in search of a third-straight F1 driver’s championship. The Belgium-born star now leads the 2023 standings by 138 points.

Formula 1 is a walk in the park for Max Verstappen in 2023

Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez is Verstappen’s closest challenger ahead of Aston Martin’s Alonso. The Mexican has claimed 201 points to the Spaniard’s 168 but his season pales into insignificance compared to Verstappen. The 2021 and 2022 champion has taken 339 points.

Verstappen also made light work of Perez during his home Grand Prix last weekend. Red Bull giving Perez the preferential strategy when rain fell abruptly at the start of the race saw the Mexican steal the lead. But Verstappen rapidly and easily closed the gap before retaking P1.

The Dutch GP became a walk in the park once Verstappen undercut Perez to regain the lead. Even a late red flag failed to deny the driver home glory. And Alonso believes Verstappen is dominating F1 to such a high level as he can have everything fall into line more than most.

What has Alonso said about Hamilton and Verstappen?

Two-time F1 champion Alonso further poked fun at Mercedes rival Hamilton when detailing why Verstappen is ‘so dominant’. He has joked that his old McLaren teammate and title rival cannot drive at his absolute maximum level unlike Verstappen or himself in Formula 1 now.

“Sometimes what Max does is underestimated,” Alonso claimed, via quotes by Motorsport-Total. “Winning in such a dominant way is a complicated matter in any professional sport. We racers are usually very self-confident but to drive at your level [regularly is a challenge]”

“I think I too can be pretty good. Lewis? I don’t know. But I do,” he joked. “Lewis can do that, too. But to deliver like this, everything has to fit: your self-confidence, your connection to the car. Max can do it 100% more often than anyone else and that’s why he’s so dominant.”