Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso keep each other in very high regard. Come to think of it, both drivers have pretty similar driving styles. The aggression, the way they attack corners, and have a thing for oversteer in their cars, both make for pretty exciting drivers. Christian Horner recognized that quality in both drivers recently which made us reminisce about a pre-race interview he gave back in 2011.

Fernando Alonso hasn’t won a race in F1 in more than a decade now. The Spaniard, ever since his Ferrari days, did not get enough opportunities to aim for the podium finishes too often. That, however, has become a consistent occurrence ever since he made a switch from Alpine to Aston Martin in 2023. The 33rd race win remains elusive, though. Starting the Monaco GP from 2nd, behind Verstappen, in a car that suits this circuit, this is his best chance to finish on the top step of the podium.

Christian Horner reveals what makes Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen so similar

Back in 2011, when Red Bull was enjoying a dominant run courtesy of Sebastian Vettel, there was one driver who was always in the back of Horner’s mind. Vettel was starting the Hungarian GP from the pole position on a rain-hit Sunday with Lewis Hamilton on his tail. Despite that, when Ted Kravitz asked Horner before the race what he was more scared of- the rain, Hamilton, or Jenson Button, the Red Bull boss replied, “Fernando Alonso.”

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, while talking about the bond Alonso and Verstappen share, Horner said, “There’s great respect between Fernando and Max but they’re very similar characters. They’re cut from the same cloth and they’re both hard racers. They both want to win this race and I’m sure Fernando sees a chance and he knows how valuable that start is. That first 500m is what’s going to dictate this Grand Prix.”

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Even Max knows how important this race is to Alonso. In fact, he even wished for him to win the Monaco GP. Wonder if he thinks the same after securing the pole position.

Verstappen wants Alonso to win in Monaco

Aston Martin’s 2023 car, the AMR23, has one unique quality that Red Bull’s RB19 lacks. That is the ability to tackle the slower corners. The AMR23 excels in that department while the RB19, while not terrible, isn’t as good. For a track like Monaco, that quality may come in handy for Alonso, who is looking for a win so desperately. Even Verstappen knows how important it is for the Spaniard.

In a recent interview with AS, he said, “I know that Fernando thinks that here he has the opportunity to do it and, honestly, I would love to see Fernando win. He should have won a lot more races than he has and he should have won a lot more titles than he has. Fernando is very good. He is still showing it, he is 41 years old and it is crazy to see him still at this level. I have a lot of respect for Fernando.”

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Do you think Alonso will get ahead of Verstappen going into Turn 1 today? That, as even Horner said, is his best chance of winning the race.