F1 drivers respond to Fernando Alonso’s ‘low quality’ insults with strong words
Several F1 drivers have shared their thoughts on Fernando Alonso’s recent comments about the skill levels across the grid, and many don’t agree with him.
Alonso got really upset after last week’s US Grand Prix when he had a crash with Alexander Albon on the first lap. Alonso said, “I think the quality of drivers in the lower third of the grid is very low, like we saw today with Alex.”
After his frustration in Texas, Alonso repeated his opinion ahead of the Mexican GP. But not all drivers agree with him. Alonso was unhappy with Albon’s move inside that caused damage to his car. Even a week later, Alonso hasn’t changed his mind, saying some drivers near the back still show a low level of skill and make lots of mistakes early in races. He added, “If I were the team boss, I wouldn’t be happy. But if they are, that’s fine.”
Albon got a chance to respond before this weekend’s race. At first, he was polite but then stood firm. He said, “I have a lot of respect for Fernando. I looked up to him growing up, so it’s tough to hear. But I don’t agree with what he said. The skill level is strong all over the grid. Ten or fifteen years ago, the back of the grid wasn’t like this. We don’t have pay drivers anymore. Hopefully, we won’t get in each other’s way this weekend.”
Sergio Perez took a softer approach when asked. “In the heat of the moment, we all say things we don’t really mean,” he said. “I think the level at the back is just as high as at the front. If we swapped cars with those at the front, the results would be very similar. In F1, your performance depends on your car and team. The skill level is really high, and the names at the back show that.”
Charles Leclerc, who has mostly raced at the front with Ferrari, also defended Albon. “When we were kids karting, Alex was one of the best. I looked up to him because he was always a step ahead,” Leclerc said. “I’m sure the level across the whole grid is very high, whether you’re at the front, middle, or back. The only difference is the race car we’re driving.”