New Ferrari driver states one F1 star is better than Hamilton and Verstappen

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New Ferrari WEC star Robert Kubica believes Fernando Alonso is the ‘strongest’ of all F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, in a ‘non-competitive’ car.

Kubica was once a title rival for Hamilton during his Formula 1 days and he nearly partnered Alonso at Ferrari. The 38-year-old was a gifted talent while racing for BMW Sauber between 2006 and 2009. He even led the drivers’ championship after winning the 2008 Canadian GP.

But a crash whilst rallying in the off-season in 2011 left Kubica with life-threatening injuries. It also cost Kubica his chance to drive for Ferrari in Formula 1. He later revealed in 2018 that the Scuderia had signed the Pole to partner Alonso from 2012 once his Renault deal expired.

Kubica once rivalled Hamilton and nearly joined Alonso at Ferrari

Now, Kubica finally has a Ferrari drive after joining their WEC Hypercar programme for 2024 with AF Corsa. But F1 still draws his attention four years on from a heroic comeback to drive for Williams in 2019. It gave him a chance to share a grid with Verstappen for the first time.

Verstappen has since gone on to become a three-time F1 champion, eclipsing two-time title winner Alonso. While Hamilton won a record-equalling seventh drivers’ title in 2020. It took the Mercedes legend level with Ferrari and Benetton icon, Michael Schumacher, with seven.

Kubica believes Alonso is better than Hamilton and Verstappen

But while Alonso has won fewer F1 titles than Hamilton and now Verstappen, who claimed his third in dominant fashion with Red Bull this year, Kubica still believes the Spaniard is the best driver on the Formula 1 grid. He especially feels that is the case when driving an inferior car.

Kubica has now point-blank named Alonso as the better driver compared to Hamilton. The new Ferrari WEC star further believes what the Aston Martin driver shows with an inferior vehicle proves he would also overshadow Verstappen if they were ever in a straight battle.

“Alonso,” Kubica flatly told the Gurulandia podcast, via quotes by AS. “In my opinion, Alonso with a non-competitive car is the strongest of all… [Is he better than Verstappen] with a non-competitive car? Yes.”

Alonso has now gone 10 years without a win in Formula 1

The 2022 Singapore GP saw Alonso eclipse Kimi Raikkonen as the driver to start the most F1 Grand Prix. He has now raced 376 from a record tally of 379 entries ahead of the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP. But the 42-year-old only ranks seventh for the driver with the most wins in F1 yet.

Alonso has won 32 Grand Prix in his F1 career while Verstappen continues to run further and further away with 53 wins to date. Hamilton, meanwhile, has won a record number of races with 103. Just Schumacher’s tally of 91 wins now stands between Hamilton and Verstappen.

But, as Kubica alludes to, Alonso has often found himself driving inferior F1 cars to the likes of Hamilton and, now, Verstappen. The Spaniard has not been a title contender since 2013 after leaving Ferrari for McLaren when the Woking team regressed with Honda power units.

Four years of being a backmarker for McLaren saw Alonso leave F1 before returning in 2021 with Alpine. Two years driving in the middle of the pack for the French squad then preceded joining Aston Martin this year. But despite their pace this year, his last win was back in 2013.