Emerson Fittipaldi names the one F1 driver he thinks could match Max Verstappen in a Red Bull

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Formula 1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi has admitted that he thinks Fernando Alonso would be just as fast as Max Verstappen if he was driving a Red Bull.

Fittipaldi was speaking to Mundo Deportivo as his family’s legacy in motorsport continues.

The 76-year-old Brazilian was one of the greatest drivers of the 1970s.

He won the world championship in 1972 and 1974, defeating the likes of Jackie Stewart, Jody Scheckter and a young Niki Lauda.

Now, Fittipaldi follows his son’s racing career with Emerson Fittipaldi Jr. currently driving in Formula 4.

Of course, the legendary Brazilian still keeps a very close eye on what’s going on in Formula 1.

The levels of domination seen in the last 10 years of F1 were a lot less common in the years that Fittipaldi drove.

The likes of Lotus, Tyrrell, Ferrari and McLaren were all capable of winning races in the early 1970s.

However, right now Red Bull are the dominant force in the sport, taking over from years of Mercedes’s superiority.

Fittipaldi has now suggested that Fernando Alonso would be just as quick as Max Verstappen if he drove for Red Bull right now.

The 42-year-old instead got the most out of his Aston Martin this year, achieving eight podiums and only finishing behind Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton in the standings.

He might be the oldest man currently on the grid, but as Fittipaldi can attest to referencing his own driving career, age is just a number.

Fittipaldi backs Alonso to match Verstappen in a Red Bull

Talking about three-time champion Max Verstappen, Fittipaldi said: “He is living a top stage of his career, with a very good team and a very good car.

“He’s performing like when [Lewis] Hamilton dominated with Mercedes for a few years. He is making the most of it.

“He, as a driver, the team and the car form a very competitive combination and they are at their best.

The interviewer then asked if Verstappen is even better than Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to which he replied: “He’s very fast, but surely if you put Alonso in a Red Bull, he’s going to be fast just the same.”

There has previously been talk of Alonso joining Red Bull due to Perez’s sporadic struggles but Fittipaldi is unlikely to get his wish any time soon.

The Spaniard is committed to Aston Martin right now and they would be mad to allow him to move on any time soon.

He comfortably outperformed teammate Lance Stroll and finished above both Ferraris in the Drivers’ Championship.

It will be a sad day when Alonso finally departs the grid. Plenty of F1 fans are hoping 2024 is when he will finally end his decade-long wait to stand on the top step of the podium once again.