Phoenix 24
Praise from one champion carries the weight of several generations.
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS
Fernando Alonso has described Max Verstappen as the best rival he has faced during his Formula One career, arguing that the Red Bull driver possesses virtually no identifiable weaknesses. Speaking to Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, the Aston Martin veteran rated Verstappen at 9.9 out of 10. Alonso jokingly reserved the perfect score for himself, but the substance of his assessment was unequivocal: Verstappen’s consistency has elevated the competitive standard of the championship.
Alonso’s judgment is significant because his Formula One career has overlapped with some of the sport’s most successful drivers. Since making his debut in 2001, the Spaniard has competed against Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen. Calling Verstappen his strongest opponent therefore amounts to a personal ranking across several eras, although it remains Alonso’s subjective opinion rather than an objectively measurable conclusion.
The two-time world champion said Verstappen displayed excessive energy and occasionally made avoidable mistakes during his earliest seasons. In Alonso’s view, those weaknesses disappeared after the Dutchman’s first years in Formula One, leaving a driver capable of producing consistently strong performances under pressure. He argued that defeating Verstappen requires opponents to improve themselves because the four-time champion rarely offers opportunities through unforced errors.
Alonso also welcomed Verstappen’s decision to extend his Red Bull contract through the end of 2030. The agreement ended months of speculation connecting the Dutch driver with Mercedes and McLaren. Alonso said keeping one of the paddock’s leading competitors in Formula One benefits the championship, even as Red Bull struggles to reproduce the dominance that delivered Verstappen four consecutive world titles.
The admiration between them has developed despite their different career trajectories. Alonso spent many of his strongest years competing without the fastest car, while Verstappen became the central figure in Red Bull’s most successful period. Their mutual respect reflects a shared reputation for extracting performance beyond the apparent limits of their machinery. Alonso’s verdict does not settle Formula One’s recurring debate over the greatest driver, but it reveals which opponent the grid’s most experienced champion considers the most complete.
Análisis que trasciende al poder. / Analysis that transcends power.