Alonso: Verstappen is best driver but Red Bull machinery will limit 2026 title hopes
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Fernando Alonso predicted Max Verstappen will finish fifth or sixth in the standings, citing the superior engineering of Mercedes under the new FIA regulations.
Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has issued a stark assessment of the 2026 grid, declaring Max Verstappen the most talented driver on the circuit while predicting the Red Bull driver will finish fifth or sixth in the championship standings. Speaking to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Alonso argued that public perception of driver ability is frequently distorted by the performance gap between chassis, a disparity he attributes to the FIA’s ADUO engine regulations.
Alonso’s comments come as Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 World Championship, a position Alonso attributes to a "massive machinery advantage" rather than superior driving skill. He suggested that Verstappen’s struggles are not a reflection of his capabilities but rather the result of Red Bull operating with inferior equipment compared to the dominant Mercedes package.
To illustrate how car performance can mask or exaggerate driver talent, Alonso drew parallels to the 2020 season. He recalled the success of Lance Stroll, his current Aston Martin teammate, who drove for Racing Point that year. Stroll utilised the RP20, a car widely known as the "Pink Mercedes" due to its mechanical similarity to the 2019 championship-winning Mercedes W10.
Alonso highlighted a press conference moment where Stroll was asked about his sudden improvement in pace. Stroll reportedly responded that he had not changed anything, but had improved by three and a half seconds simply because he was driving a car comparable to those of the leading drivers. Alonso used this anecdote to argue that external factors often dictate results more than individual skill.
The former champion extended this critique to the era dominated by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. He stated that the machinery advantage during the peak of the turbo-hybrid regulations was so severe that drivers currently qualifying in Q1 would have been regular podium finishers had they possessed that specific Mercedes equipment.
Alonso’s assessment underscores the current competitive imbalance in Formula 1, where the ADUO regulations have effectively granted Mercedes a significant development head start. He maintained that while Verstappen remains the best driver on the grid, the engineering reality of the 2026 season means his talent alone will not be sufficient to secure the title.
As the season progresses, Alonso’s comments serve as a reminder that championship outcomes are often determined by the quality of the machinery as much as the skill of the driver. He emphasised that the man standing on the top step of the podium is not always the most talented, but rather the one with the best engineers and the most competitive car.
