Alonso says F1 back-of-grid drivers lack talent after Albon collision

The Austin collision

Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon collided on the first lap of the United States Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday, 25 October. Alonso, who started 12th, was trying to pass Esteban Ocon when the Williams driver struck his Aston Martin, and both cars were damaged. Alonso finished 16th with his car missing underbody parts. Albon, who started 17th and had already gained three places before the contact, finished 17th with a broken front wing. Albon said he tried to move towards the kerb but could not, and that he may have gone a little too far. He also said he has enormous respect for Alonso, whom he admired as a boy.

Alonso's criticism of the back of the grid

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 on Thursday, 29 October, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Alonso repeated that the level of driving is very low at the back of the grid. He pointed to Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who still win races after starting from the back when they change engines, as proof that talented drivers can wait a lap or two. He said he would not be happy in the team director's chair, but that if the team is content, that is fine with him. He added that everyone knows which drivers he means, and he criticised unnecessary first-lap errors by drivers who are fighting for nothing.

“I think it is simply a very low level of driving and a lack of talent.”

Alonso argued that a bad start is not the end of the world for good drivers, but that repeated errors lead to accidents and wasted races. He said the drivers at the back carry a particular risk because the car is harder to control there.

“When you make repeated mistakes throughout the season, you have accidents, and 50% of your race is decided on the first lap.”

Aston Martin's 2026 car and outlook

Adrian Newey, the Aston Martin engineer, told Motorsport that the development route he chose for the 2026 car was a mistake. He joined in early March, when little research had been done, which left a very short development window. He had initially backed a high-rake approach, which he said had both strengths and weaknesses, and the team has since moved to a middle-ground solution that he considers valid. Alonso said Aston Martin must improve, even though attention has long been on 2027. Emerson Fittipaldi, the two-time world champion from 1972 and 1974, praised Alonso's racing and expects Aston Martin to become competitive once its power unit problems are fixed.

Mexico and the 18th round

The Mexican Grand Prix is the 18th round of the season and takes place at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit on Sunday, 1 November. Albon said he has enormous respect for Alonso, and he now has the chance to answer on track in Mexico. The young Italian Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) is among the drivers who could win the race.