Alonso stands firm on F1 driving standards after Albon clash: 'We all know who we're talking about'

Fernando Alonso has refused to walk back his sharp criticism of Formula 1’s driving standards, insisting at the Mexico City media day that he fully stands by remarks made in the heat of the moment after Alexander Albon’s opening-lap collision at the US Grand Prix in Austin. According to Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer Mike Krack, the contact cost Alonso a considerable amount of downforce on a day when the car had the pace to challenge for points.

“I don’t know if it’s one third of the grid, because then I saw some reports trying to pick out eight drivers or seven drivers,” Alonso said. “I’m not specific on the number of them, but I think we all know which ones we talk about and which ones felt hit by that comment. That tells you everything.”

The two-time world champion was unsparing in his assessment of the incident itself. “I still find it difficult to understand what the opportunity was that Alex saw in that moment,” he said. “But it’s not only Austin. Unfortunately, I’ve been in that part of the race for the whole season, so I see things from the car that I cannot tell you.”

When asked whether driving standards had gradually deteriorated in Formula 1, Alonso was careful to draw a distinction. “No, I think it’s the same over the years,” he explained. “Obviously, when you are at the back of the grid, the cars are more difficult to drive. They have less grip and mistakes are coming more often because you don’t have the environment that is under control.”

His concern, he stressed, is not the difficulty of the machinery but the frequency of avoidable contact. “All the incidents in lap one, all the touches, all the front wings that fly around — these are not necessary. Especially if you are fighting for nothing at the back of the grid.”

Alonso also pointed to the sport’s cost cap as a compounding factor, suggesting that teams running at the back may be absorbing repair bills that eat into their development budgets. “If their teams are happy with the cost cap and breaking things every race, it’s okay for them,” he said — a remark that lands with added weight given that Williams team principal James Vowles has repeatedly called for a rethink of the current cost cap structure.