Verstappen’s Crisis
Winner of four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024, Max Verstappen is experiencing a season full of difficulties, as evidenced by the absence of victories. From the start of the championship until the British GP (where he retired at the end following a spin that infuriated the Dutchman), the Red Bull driver has never reached the top step of the podium, in addition to having repeatedly criticized the new F1 technical regulations introduced this year.
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Alonso’s ‘Defense’
Another multiple world champion like Fernando Alonso, who hasn’t won a race since 2013, has not spared criticism towards F1, believing that the current cars limit a driver’s talent. Not surprisingly, in a recent interview given to the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the 44-year-old Aston Martin driver considers it an injustice that Verstappen is not in contention for the world title this season: “Max Verstappen is the best driver on the grid and this year he will finish fifth or sixth – he stated – I don’t know if F1 is a bit unfair in this regard, but there is no need to waste time explaining to those who don’t want to understand“.
Hill’s Reply
A comment not at all shared by the 1996 world champion: Damon Hill. In a post on his Instagram profile, the Briton replied to Alonso’s words with these statements: “What nonsense! I strongly disagree with Alonso on this point“. Now a commentator for BBC Radio 5 Live, the 65-year-old became famous in 2024 for comparing Verstappen to Dick Dastardly, the unscrupulous character from the cartoon Wacky Races, but not only that. More recently, Hill responded to Alain Prost’s opinion, according to which Verstappen’s driving style resembles that of Niki Lauda: “I agree with Prost. Max never misses a beat, but Lauda drove with his head, not with his fists“.
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