Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso has doubled down on his criticism of “low-level” Formula 1 drivers who have a “lack of talent” following his collision with Williams’ Alex Albon in Austin.
Albon attempted to overtake Alonso for 12th place at the Turn 11 hairpin on the opening lap of the United States Grand Prix, but went into the driver’s side of the Aston Martin, damaging both cars.
Neither driver received a penalty and both were able to continue with Alonso finishing 16th and Albo 17th in Austin.
After the race, Alonso declared that the quality of drivers in the bottom third of the F1 grid is “very low” and he had not changed his stance at Thursday’s media day ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
“I think it’s just a very low level of leadership and a lack of talent,” he said Sky Sports F1.
“When you make repeated mistakes throughout the season and have crashes and 50 percent of your race is in the first lap, if I was the team principal I wouldn’t be happy, but if they are happy, I’m fine with that.
“When I see Max (Verstappen), Lewis (Hamilton) starting from the back when they change engines or whatever, Kimi at Monza, they still win races. Lap 1 is not the end of the world when you have your confidence and the talent to wait another lap or two.”
Alonso says he will not raise the issue at Friday’s drivers’ meeting as “it is part of the game” and it is up to Aston Martin to start higher up the grid to “get out of that part of the field”.
“Some teams can’t score points. It’s the same for us this year. You go into races knowing you need eight DNFs to score points, so it’s more about driving the best race to the finish line,” he added.
“Maybe if you’re not having a good season, being beaten by your team-mate, whatever’s in your head, it brings extra frustration, but other drivers and teams shouldn’t have to pay for that.”
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Fernando Alonso criticized ‘low-quality third drivers’ after his collision with Alex Albon in Austin.
“It’s not good to hear that,” Albon reacted to Alonso’s comments
Alboni was told about Alonso’s comments at the FIA press conference and argued that the grid is as strong as it has been “for a while”.
“I’ll double down on what I said as well. I have a lot of respect for Fernando. I watched him a lot growing up as a kid,” said the Williams driver.
“It’s not nice to hear those comments in a lot of ways. You’re competing with someone who looks up to you, but at the same time, I don’t agree. It’s as simple as that.
“I think the level is strong up and down the grid. I think 10, 15 years ago, the back half of the grid wasn’t what it is now. We don’t have paid drivers anymore. It is what it is. Hopefully we don’t go over corners or cross roads in the race this weekend!”
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Williams driver Alex Albon disagrees with Fernando Alonso’s claim that there is a ‘lack of talent’ in the bottom third of the Formula 1 grid.
However, Alonso had stressed that his comments would be the same at any point in his career since he made his F1 debut in 2001.
“It’s the same over the years. When you’re at the bottom of the grid, the cars are hard to drive, harder to drive – they have less control, so mistakes come more often because you don’t have an environment that’s under control and the car doesn’t welcome you nicely, so you make more mistakes.
“But I don’t feel all the incidents on the first lap and the touches, the front wings flying around, all these things are not necessary, especially when you are not fighting for anything at the end of the grid and there is the cost limit, adding to this problem.
“There are teams that are happy with the cost limit and breaking things every race. They can pay for them.”
Sky Sports F1 Mexico City GP live schedule
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Check out some of the most dramatic moments that happened at the Mexico City Grand Prix
Friday, October 30
18:00: First practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 18:30)*
20:00: F1 show
21:00: Press conference of the team bosses
21:30: Second Practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 22:00)*
Saturday, October 31
17:15: Third Practice of the Mexican Grand Prix (session starts at 18:30)
20:00: Mexican Grand Prix qualifying preparation
21:00: MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
11:00 p.m.: Ted’s qualifying notebook
Sunday November 1
17:00: Race 3 of the F1 Academy
18:30: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP Preparation
20:00: MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Checkered flag: Mexico City GP reaction
11:00 p.m.: Teddy’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads south for the second leg of the Americas triple with the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime