DAZN is doing it again. Because Fernando Alonso probably remains his safest business asset, at a time when his friend Carlos Sainz is preparing to formalize his downgrade after four years of ups and downs at Ferrari. Because the 2005 and 2006 world champion remains at almost 43 years old one of the most fascinating drivers of his generation through his personality, his professionalism and this halo of mystery that surrounds him.
To attest to this, nothing better than a triple world champion. Max Verstappen therefore. Questioned by the Spanish channel on June 9, the Dutchman was categorical: “Nando” is in his top 5 of the greatest drivers in the history of the World Championship. With Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton and Juan Manuel Fangio. Names that reach consensus, even if the Spanish veteran is less successful than emblematic champions like Niki Lauda (3 crowns), Alain Prost or Sebastien Vettel (4).
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Credit: Getty Images
Enscension by Verstappen
The Dutchman claims a free opinion, because he praises the Asturian beyond the statistics. “Fernando always shows himself as he is. It’s something I admire enormously, underlines the current world number 1, in comments taken up by motorsport.com. He has enjoyed great success, but remains passionate about motor racing. He’s a normal, nice man and I like him. He’s also usually very happy when another driver succeeds.”
He also credits him with having introduced Formula 1 to an entire country, like him in the Netherlands. Which inevitably brings you closer. And echoes the comments made by the leader of Aston Martin last January. “Verstappen was perhaps a little crazier in his early days (…) but now he is a very decent driver, the Oviedo native told DAZN. Off the track, I see a lot of similarities between him and me. We have the same interests, we love racing. We love sport more than entertainment.”
Where did “Monsieur Plus” go?
If Fernando Alonso had recently announced his upcoming retirement (but no, he returned for 2025 and 206), one might have believed in a fitting tribute from the Batavian. It is therefore sincere, precious, from a “racer” who appreciates the jousts on the track, even if these have ultimately not been numerous since the Red Bull ace took power over the sport . And even fewer and fewer with all the others.
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
Credit: Getty Images
It’s a fact, “Monsieur Plus” has fallen into line for a year, and now rarely leaves it. Less regular in its results, it seems less impactful for Aston Martin. The embodiment of a paradox, he remains a “key player” for the Greens without always appearing like a “game changer”. The No. 14 attacked 2023 with six podiums in eight races, crowned with the status of world No. 3. Since his second place at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix, he has only signed two Top 3 finishes (in the Netherlands and Brazil), unable to stem the drop in speed of a single-seater lacking in developments, at light years from the Red Bull, mistreated by the Mercedes and the Ferrari, and even a McLaren in perpetual rise.
Thinning in Montreal
At the time of reviving his memories of his last victory in Formula 1, at Montmelo in 2013, Fernando Alonso is struggling to find his always form. Sixth in Montreal, he flirted with his best result in 2024 (a top 5 in Jeddah), without dispelling doubts. How did he go from 19-3 in his qualifying duels with Lance Stroll in 2023 to a provisional record of 4-3 against the Canadian this season? He was even ejected twice in a row in Q1 (19th in Imola, 16th in Monaco), a mishap he had not experienced since 2018. Big crash in free practice 3 at Imola and inability to get out round which counts in the money time in qualifying. Traffic in Q1 in Monaco, poor choice of tires in the race… It’s as if he was no longer in the right place, at the right time. At least more systematically, which was its strength; his signature.
2025 F1 calendar: “A regionalization effort”
Has he lost his mojo? Are we still dealing with the same Fernando Alonso? Christian Horner and Toto Wolff replied that if he was indeed free for 2025, they did not need him. In short, it was no longer essential. Of course, his technical expertise remains an asset worthy of the greatest, but he no longer seems able to circumvent all the obstacles placed in front of his AMR24. A material problem that his boss, Mike Krack, does not deny. “There is no excuse, we didn’t have the car to be in the top 10,” declared the team director of the Greens in the Principality.
