McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella Snubs Lewis Hamilton in Top Three F1 Drivers Ranking
In a surprising turn of events, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has excluded Sir Lewis Hamilton from his list of the top three Formula One drivers currently dominating the grid. Despite Hamilton’s remarkable career, which includes seven world championship titles, Stella contends that other drivers are currently outshining him.
The Hertfordshire-born driver, now 38, has faced challenges in recent seasons, particularly in his rivalry with Max Verstappen. Despite Hamilton’s impressive track record, including a record-setting seven world championships, his struggles in the past two seasons have seemingly impacted Stella’s assessment.
Hamilton finished sixth in the Driver Standings last year amid Mercedes’ on-track difficulties and secured a third-place finish in the current season. However, according to Stella, this doesn’t secure him a spot among the top three drivers in Formula One.
The McLaren team principal has bestowed the title of the best driver upon Max Verstappen, a three-time world champion. Additionally, Stella recognized the talents of Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso, both of whom have earned their places in his esteemed trio of Formula One drivers.
Stella’s rankings have sparked discussions within the Formula One community, as fans and experts weigh in on whether Hamilton’s recent challenges have indeed impacted his standing among the current elite in the sport.
He told DAZN: “Lando is already one of the best drivers on the grid.
“He is very fast, very good in the race, with tire management… When I think about Lando, I think that if the team and I gave him a good car, he would be able to fight for the championship.
“When we talk about being the most complete, I definitely think of Fernando Alonso. He basically has no weaknesses.
“I think this makes him unique. He is not the best in many things, but he is very strong in all of them.
“Lando, I think his development as a driver will make him so complete. He reminds me a little of Fernando.
“My top 3 drivers with the same cars would be Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso.”
This year, Red Bull led the constructors’ championship standings, followed by Mercedes in second place and Ferrari in third.
