Verstappen: Alonso shouldn't waste his time with F1 return
Verstappen: Alonso shouldn't waste his time with F1 return
Max Verstappen says it would be a "waste of time" for Fernando Alonso to return to Formula 1 with a team not capable of winning races and championships.
Alonso departed F1 at the end of 2018 after four seasons of struggle back at McLaren, who have improved dramatically in 2019 and finished fourth in the constructors' championship.
The two-time F1 world champion has hinted that the promise of a levelled playing field under F1's new regulations in 2021 could tempt him back to the sport, but Red Bull star Verstappen issued a word of warning.
"Fernando's a great driver … and it would be good to see him if he could come back, but only in a competitive car," Verstappen said.
"Otherwise I think it's just a waste of time for him. But I think he knows that himself."
Alonso's former team-mate Lewis Hamilton compared the Spaniard's potential return to that of Michael Schumacher, which saw F1's record-setting icon return with a Mercedes side which struggled in its initial years back on the grid.
Hamilton joked: "I'd be more just happy that I won't be the oldest here!
"Fernando's obviously a well-accomplished driver. It's interesting to see in the past, obviously, with drivers wanting to come back, like Michael, and it's something you've done your whole life. So I haven't spoken to Fernando so I don't know how he's been feeling or how much he's missed it, but I don't think it would be bad for the sport.
"Ultimately, there's a lot of young kids on their way up and there's only 20 seats, so he has also had his period of time there. But if there's no other good youngsters coming through then there definitely is space for some that are currently here that probably could be replaced. So I would welcome it."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
EXCLUSIVE: F1 star backs American interest to 'keep growing' in 2024
- 15 minutes ago
Andretti names dream date for team's F1 debut
- 1 hour ago
F1 Miami Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today
- 2 hours ago
Former F1 champion in surprise take over safety improvements
- 2 hours ago
F1 set for stunning 2026 RETURN to shock track
- 3 hours ago
Jos Verstappen fears Newey exit will trigger Red Bull collapse
- Today 10:57
- 1
Related news
F1 superstar taking on FIA over PENALTY decision
Jos Verstappen hints at Red Bull EXIT for champion son
Max Verstappen's preferred Red Bull team-mate REVEALED by F1 pundit
Hamilton F1 rival makes astonishing admission with Verstappen claim
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860