In 2005 and 2006, Fernando Alonso won the championships back to back. Many believed it was the start of something magical. While Fernando Alonso did make it difficult for the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in their championship pursuit, ultimately, the Spaniard never won a championship again. After the stint with McLaren in the mid-2010s, it seemed as if it might be curtains for the 2X world champion. 

Alonso retired at the end of the 2018 season. But it wasn’t long before he made a comeback with Alpine. After two years at Alpine, the Spaniard decided to switch teams to Aston Martin. Fans were concerned whether it would be another bad decision made by Alonso. However, it paid off, and the old, hungry Spaniard seemed to have revived. 8 podiums and many memorable overtakes later, Fernando Alonso came out as one of the most impressive drivers in the 2023 F1 season. 

With the season coming to an end, it was time for the FIA’s award ceremony where the Trophies are given away. Max Verstappen took home the trophy as a World Champion. While Fernando missed out on finishing as a runner-up and could only manage P4, he did win an award at the ceremony yesterday. The award for the FIA Action of the Year was awarded to him for his move on Sergio Perez on the last lap at the Brazilian GP. 

With Fernando Alonso looking at his best again, let’s see if the 42-year-old rookie will be able to beat 3X champion Max Verstappen in the same car.

Experience, Pace, Racecraft, and More: Which driver comes out on top?

Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen as teammates wouldn’t be anything short of a Hollywood action movie. While Verstappen is the absolute dominant beast that he is, Alonso is busy planning and plotting, while the Dutchman does so. But before comparing the team dynamic, let’s have a look at Alonso and Verstappen’s abilities as an F1 driver. 

F1 drivers need to be as fit as any other athlete in the world. Despite being 42, Fernando Alonso seems to be as fit as Max Verstappen. While Max Verstappen surpassed Alonso in the number of championships this year, the Spaniard still has over a decade more of experience in F1. All this experience helps in crucial times when tough decisions are to be made. 

Read More: Fernando Alonso Transforms Into National Hero as ‘Mental Bravery’ Inspires Spanish Racing Prodigy

Moving to pace, Max Verstappen comes out as the clear winner. Arguably, only Charles Leclerc comes close to the Dutchman in one lap pace. Alonso, on the other hand, isn’t the best of the qualifiers. Even Peter Windsor had advised on one-lap pace, not being Alonso’s strongest suit. Nonetheless, the 2X World Champion’s racecraft and ability to think two steps ahead of the opposition make up for it. 

We’ve seen throughout the 2023 season how Fernando Alonso always had a trick up his sleeve whenever a rival asked a question. There’s a reason why Alonso is called the Clever Old Fox of the grid. On paper, both of them have an advantage in one aspect of racing or another. But F1 is a team sport where the car plays as important a role as the driver. So how will both the drivers react or want the car if they get into the same team? 

Understeer vs Oversteer: Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen’s driving style

Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen end up on the opposite end of the spectrum regarding how they want their car to be. And it doesn’t only come down to the setup but the basic nature of the car. Fernando Alonso prefers a car that understands and has a strong rear end. Max Verstappen, on the contrary, likes a car that is super pointy at the front and oversteers. 

If Fernando Alonso makes a move to Red Bull, it’ll be difficult for him to show his prowess as the upcoming Red Bulls are expected to be built around Max Verstappen. We’ve already seen this year how Sergio Perez struggled in the super pointy RB19. Checo himself likes a car that understeers. The Dutchman might also struggle with a car that understeers a lot. In the end, it boils down to the driving style and how the driver feels the most connected to the car.

We’ve seen Adrian Newey design a car with a strong rear end during the Sebastian Vettel era and with a strong front end for Max Verstappen. It’s always the Red Bull No.1 driver around whom the car is built and set up. It is very unlikely for Red Bull to consider building a car around Fernando Alonso if he makes a move. 

Does Fernando Alonso have what it takes to beat Max Verstappen?

Given the right car, Fernando Alonso most definitely has what it takes to beat Max Verstappen. However, the World of F1 isn’t ideal and Alonso is only getting older. Red Bull doesn’t seem interested in signing the 42-year-old. But in some magical way, Red Bull decided to sign Alonso next to Verstappen and build a neutral car. Alonso has the aggressiveness and ability to not be affected by Max Verstappen’s dominance and keep his mind focused on himself. 

Emerson Fittipaldi suggested how Alonso has what it takes to beat Verstappen, as he said, “He [Verstappen] is experiencing a top stage in his career, with a very good team and a very good car. He is performing like Hamilton dominated for a few years at Mercedes. He gets the best out of it. He as a driver, the team and the car are a very competitive combination, and they are at their best. He is very fast, but if you put Alonso in a Red Bull, he is definitely just as fast.”

Fittipaldi suggests that Alonso will be equally quick in the Red Bull despite the car not being made for understeer. Over the last 2 decades, the F1 world has witnessed Fernando Alonso squeezing the best out of whatever car he was given. This is because Alonso adapts himself to the car. While he likes a car with a strong rear, that doesn’t mean he won’t be able to perform in a pointy car. 

Watch this Story: Does Fernando Alonso Believe He Can be a 3-time World Champion?

The dynamic between Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen on the same team will be one that many would like to see. While the Spaniard definitely has what it takes to beat Verstappen, many other things must be going his way to beat the Dutchman in the championship. 

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.