Alonso draws parallels between Verstappen's dominance and his Ferrari years

Dominika Jordan
Apr 17, 2025, 2:58 PM ET

Fernando Alonso likens Verstappen's dominance to his Ferrari era, highlighting shared success.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Fernando Alonso recently reflected on a period of his Formula 1 career that he feels mirrors Max Verstappen’s current success. The Spaniard likened the Dutchman’s ability to excel without the best car to his own experience during his time at Ferrari. “It reminds me a bit of my time at Ferrari in 2010 and 2012, when I was fighting for the championship until the last race with the third or fourth best car,” Alonso shared during a press conference alongside Verstappen.

Alonso came agonizingly close to claiming two titles during those Ferrari years, despite racing machinery that was far from dominant. In his debut season with the Scuderia in 2010, the two-time world champion narrowly lost the title to Sebastian Vettel by just four points during a dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi. In 2012, he missed out again, this time by three points to Vettel, after a bitter final-round battle in Brazil. Ferrari lagged behind in the Constructors' Championship both years, with Alonso’s best efforts far outshining teammate Felipe Massa, who finished 150 points behind Alonso in 2012.

Max Verstappen's trajectory bears striking similarities. Despite driving for a team with occasional shortcomings, Verstappen has displayed remarkable consistency, accumulating an impressive 64 career wins and two championship titles. Alonso sees parallels in their approaches to overcoming challenges. “Sometimes I wasn’t even in Q3, but I was winning races and stuff like that,” Alonso noted.

The Aston Martin driver acknowledged the immense pressure required to operate at this elite level. “You can’t afford any mistakes. You can’t miss a qualifying round, make errors in traffic, or hinder another driver. Everything has to be perfect, otherwise it all falls apart. It’s a dream, but it’s also a real challenge.”

Alonso himself has displayed flashes of brilliance in 2023, claiming six podiums at the start of the season with Aston Martin. However, the team’s performance has since dipped. Hopes are high for Aston Martin's future, with Adrian Newey—who arrives from Red Bull in 2026—expected to help engineer a revival for the British outfit.

While Verstappen’s current dominance stands on its own, Alonso’s reflections reinforce the shared hallmark of greatness: the ability to push boundaries, even when the odds are stacked against you.