Fernando Alonso has described Max Verstappen as the ‘best competitor’ he has encountered in Formula 1. The Aston Martin driver made the assessment at the recent Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Alonso rated Verstappen as a ‘9.9’ out of ten, humorously adding that only he himself would be a ’10’.
Alonso elaborated on his high praise, stating that Verstappen possesses ‘no weak spots’ on the track. He further noted that the Red Bull driver has effectively ‘raised the bar for all of us’ in the sport. This indicates a significant level of respect from the two-time world champion.
Verstappen’s 2026 season has been challenging, with the Red Bull Racing driver still seeking his first victory. The first half of the campaign was described as ‘tough’ by Verstappen himself. Red Bull was the sole frontrunning team yet to secure a win by early August.
Currently, Verstappen holds seventh position in the Drivers’ standings. He trails championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli by 103 points. Red Bull began the 2026 season with what was considered the fourth-fastest car on the grid.
An upgrade package introduced before the Austrian Grand Prix marked a turning point for Red Bull. This development has since led to Verstappen securing three podium finishes in the last four races. His best result this season was a second-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso also experienced a difficult start to the 2026 season with Aston Martin. His ninth-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix was his first points score of the year. It also represented Aston Martin’s strongest result of the current campaign.
Aston Martin introduced a Honda engine upgrade and refined its aerodynamic package at Zandvoort. The team had struggled at the back of the field during the initial phase of the season. Alonso’s current contract with Aston Martin concludes at the end of the 2026 season.
The Spanish driver has indicated he is ‘open to everything’ regarding his future in Formula 1. He has previously mentioned the possibility of transitioning to the Dakar Rally. Alonso also suggested the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix was ‘probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1’.
Verstappen has been vocal in his criticism of the 2026 technical regulations, labeling them ‘anti-racing’ and ‘Formula E on steroids’. Alonso has expressed understanding for these comments, noting that the new rules reduce a driver’s ability to make a difference in corners due to energy management requirements.
However, former F1 World Champion Damon Hill dismissed Alonso’s suggestion that Formula 1 was being unfair to Verstappen. Hill publicly stated that such a claim was ‘rubbish’, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding Verstappen’s performance this season.
