Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): Scathing verdict on 2026 race cars

Max Verstappen was knocked out after a crash instead of finishing third on the podium. Kimi Antonelli was forced back after a mechanical failure instead of taking the win. But Max and Kimi weren’t the only drivers left thoroughly fed up after the turbulent Silverstone Grand Prix.

Even the indomitable Fernando Alonso (44) faced the journalists’ microphones with a sombre expression. And then the 32-time Grand Prix winner gave the 2026 Formula 1 a thorough dressing-down.

The 2006 and 2006 world champion said: “In my opinion, the fans at Silverstone didn’t see any real racing. I’ve looked at the footage of the sprint race again. You could see drivers overtaking on the straights simply because their cars had a higher battery charge.”

“It doesn’t require any input from the driver; you no longer need any particular talent to overtake the car in front of you. You don’t have to brake later than your opponent, you don’t have to overtake on the outside, you don’t have to take any risks.”

“All you have to do is press a button and you overtake – provided you have a better power unit than the driver in the car in front. That’s all there is to it.”