If Fernando Alonso were to compete for Red Bull, two-time Formula 1 World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi thinks the Spaniard would be just as quick as Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman, according to the 1972 and 1974 World Champion, is “making the most” of having the best car on the grid, much like Lewis Hamilton did for a long time.
With the exception of 2016, Hamilton ruled Formula One from 2014 until 2020, when Verstappen upset him in a contentious race for the 2021 Drivers’ Championship.
Similar to what Verstappen has done since last year, Hamilton took full advantage of Mercedes constantly providing him with the greatest equipment on the circuit.
While Verstappen performed admirably in 2022, he was extraordinary and effortlessly broke records in the just concluded 2023 campaign.
He won by an incredible 290 points for the third time in a row. Red Bull was able to win the Constructors’ Championship without Sergio Perez’s points thanks to his record-breaking 575 points.
Although the Dutchman was sporadically challenged by Perez, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, and Ferrari, none of them were able to consistently take him down.
Hamilton was later disqualified, but at least he gave Verstappen a good fight at the US Grand Prix.
In 2023, Alonso may have given Verstappen the hardest fight up until Aston Martin’s vehicle got worse the more changes the Silverstone, England-based company made.
With the exception of the Singapore Grand Prix, the RB19 performed admirably everywhere, and Verstappen deserves praise for making the most of the vehicle’s exceptional capabilities.
Red Bull and Verstappen are just a “very competitive combination”, that Fittipaldi believes are “at their best”.
“He is living a top stage of his career, with a very good team and a very good car,” Fittipaldi told Mundo Deportivo.
“He’s performing like when [Lewis] Hamilton dominated with Mercedes for a few years. He is making the most of it.
“He, as a driver, the team and the car form a very competitive combination and they are at their best.”
As good as Verstappen is, Fittipaldi still doesn’t think he’s unbeatable, with the 76-year-old being certain that Alonso would match him if in the same car.
“He’s very fast, but surely if you put Alonso in a Red Bull, he’s going to be fast just the same,” claimed Fittipaldi.
