Fernando Alonso has doubled down on his criticism of Formula 1’s lower-grid drivers following his collision with Alex Albon at the United States Grand Prix.
The Aston Martin driver questioned the driving standards of several competitors, arguing that repeated mistakes and first-lap incidents were costing teams valuable opportunities.
However, Albon has rejected Alonso’s assessment, with Pierre Gasly and Oliver Bearman also defending the quality of the current F1 grid ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Alonso refuses to back down over F1 driving standards
Two-time world champion Alonso questioned the talent and driving standards of competitors towards the back of the grid after the pair made contact on the opening lap in Austin.
Speaking ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Aston Martin driver maintained that he had not changed his position.
Alonso described the standard of driving among some lower-grid competitors as particularly poor, arguing that repeated mistakes and first-lap incidents were costing teams valuable results.
He also questioned why drivers continued to take unnecessary risks when there was still plenty of time to make progress during a race.
“When you make repeated mistakes throughout the season and have crashes and 50 per cent of your race is in Lap 1, if I was the team principal I would not be happy,” Alonso told Sky Sports.
The Spaniard also pointed to the performances of Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli, arguing that experienced and talented drivers could recover from difficult starting positions without immediately risking their races.
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Albon rejects Alonso’s assessment of the F1 grid
Albon, meanwhile, was quick to defend the current standard of competition in Formula 1.
The Williams driver acknowledged his respect for Alonso but disagreed with the suggestion that drivers towards the back of the grid lacked the necessary talent.
He also argued that the overall standard had improved considerably compared to 10 or 15 years ago.
“I have a huge respect for Fernando. I looked up to him a lot growing up as a kid,” Albon explained.
“It’s not nice to hear those comments in many ways. You’re racing someone that you look up to, but at the same time, I don’t agree.”
Albon added that the current grid was considerably stronger than it had been in previous years, pointing to the reduced presence of pay drivers in the sport.
The disagreement follows their opening-lap collision in Austin, where Albon attempted to overtake Alonso for 12th place into the Turn 11 hairpin.
The Williams driver made contact with the Aston Martin, damaging both cars in the process.
Neither competitor received a penalty, with Alonso eventually finishing 16th and Albon crossing the line in 17th.
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Alonso questions unnecessary incidents under the cost cap
Alonso also raised concerns about the financial consequences of repeated collisions, particularly with Formula 1 operating under a cost cap.
The Spaniard argued that teams already struggling to compete for points could face additional difficulties when unnecessary incidents result in expensive repairs.
He acknowledged that cars towards the back of the grid were more difficult to control because of their reduced grip and unpredictable handling.
However, he maintained that this did not justify the number of first-lap incidents and damaged front wings seen throughout the season.
Alonso also dismissed suggestions that the FIA stewards should intervene more frequently, arguing that driving standards were ultimately the responsibility of the competitors themselves.
Instead, he suggested that drivers needed to consider how their decisions could affect their long-term prospects in Formula 1.
Gasly and Bearman also defend the current grid
Alonso’s comments also attracted criticism from other drivers, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Haas’ Oliver Bearman offering their own perspectives.
Gasly agreed with Albon that the current grid was among the strongest in recent years, despite acknowledging that he had not watched the Austin incident.
The Frenchman also highlighted how driving standards had improved since he entered Formula 1.
Bearman similarly disagreed with Alonso’s assessment, arguing that drivers towards the back of the field often needed to take opportunities when they presented themselves.
He suggested that the competitive nature of the current grid made it difficult for midfield and lower-ranked teams to challenge for strong results.
With the top eight positions frequently dominated by the leading four teams, Bearman explained that drivers were sometimes forced to take greater risks to make progress.
The disagreement adds another talking point ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Alonso and Albon will both be looking to put their Austin frustrations behind them.
Michael Davey 
SportJustSport writers 
Anuraj Tyagi