Fernando Alonso has dismissed comparisons between Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 title push and his failed 2007 bid, which saw both McLaren drivers come up short.
As the battle between the McLaren drivers and Verstappen resumes at this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, the reigning champion’s renaissance is repeating history.
Kimi Raikkonen clawed back an 18-point deficit with two races left in 2007 to take the title at the final race, beating McLaren’s Alonso and Lewis Hamilton by one point.
McLaren once again has both drivers battling for the title, with CEO Zak Brown admitting it is willing to risk losing the championship to guarantee equal driver treatment.
Alonso, however, has played down the comparisons to that ill-fated campaign, when asked how McLaren should handle the situation, highlighting the unpredictability in F1.
“I don’t know, let’s see how it goes to Abu Dhabi’, he told media including Motorsport Week.
“These things can change quickly, race after race or even day after day.
“Free practice we have a feeling, then in qualifying we have the opposite feeling and then on the race it depends how it unfolds.
“You can have a different contender, but let’s see in Abu Dhabi. But I don’t think the situation is that similar to 2007, I disagree.”
Questioned on Verstappen’s dramatic turnaround given the dominance of McLaren in the first half of the season, Alonso again praised Verstappen’s driving ability.
“Well, in a way yes”, he said, “because McLaren was dominant and Red Bull was struggling on car pace for the middle of the season.
“Now they seem to find a little bit of the right direction with the car, and when the car is close enough, Max will make the difference, so yeah, not a surprise.”
READ MORE – Fernando Alonso highlights advantage Max Verstappen has over McLaren duo in F1 title duel
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