Alonso doubles down on comments about drivers lacking quality: We all know who I was talking about

Fernando Alonso was unexpectedly scathing about the drivers at the back of the field in Austin. At the time, his remarks could have been put down to emotion and post-race frustration, but as became clear in Mexico, that was not the real reason. Alonso stands by his comments.

Formula 1’s most experienced driver had to complete the entire Grand Prix with a damaged car after Alex Albon hit him at Turn 11. That prompted some harsh words about a third of the drivers at the back being of “very low quality”.

With time to reflect, he is not taking any of it back. “I don’t know if it’s one third of the grid, because then I saw some reports trying to pick out eight drivers or seven drivers,” said Fernando Alonso, revisiting his comments. “I’m not specific on the number of them, but I think we all know which ones we talk about and which ones felt hit by that comment.”

That tells you everything, so I still feel the same. That was a mistake that was not needed and I still find it difficult to understand what the opportunity was that Alex saw in that moment, but it’s not only Austin. Unfortunately, I’ve been in that part of the race for the whole season, so I see things from the car that I cannot tell you,” the two-time world champion continued.

Young drivers are arriving in Formula 1 better prepared than ever. They have a wide range of junior championships, extensive simulator preparation and an increasingly professional approach from an early age to thank for that.

According to Alonso, however, the standard has not changed dramatically since he started out. “No, I think it’s the same over the years. Obviously, when you are at the back of the grid, the cars are more difficult to drive. They have less grip and mistakes are coming more often because you don’t have the environment that is under control. The car does not welcome you in a nice way, so you make more mistakes.”

“But I feel that all the incidents in lap one, all the touches, all the front wings that fly around, all these kind of things are not necessary. Especially if you are fighting for nothing at the back of the grid,” he said, shaking his head at his rivals’ inexplicable aggression.

He believes there is another reason why teams at the back need to race sensibly. “There is the cost cap also adding to this problem, but if their teams are happy with the cost cap and breaking things every race, it’s okay for them.”

According to Alonso, the drivers in question are also harming their own prospects in another respect. “It’s just whatever ambition those drivers have, whatever they want for the future: If they want to stay in Formula 1 for longer, if they want to have an opportunity to get into a bigger team, or if they are happy to crash.”