Verstappen thinks it’s “unfair”
Adventurous F1 rumor makes Alonso angry
November 2nd, 2023, 7:48 p.m
It starts with an internet post that doesn’t even mention his name. After that, a dynamic develops and the rumor that Fernando Alonso could go to Red Bull. The Spaniard is angry and announces: “I will make sure that there are consequences.”
Sometimes it gets adventurous. In this case, it was too adventurous even for an experienced Formula 1 driver like Fernando Alonso. The 42-year-old Spaniard said in the Formula 1 paddock in São Paulo that he didn’t enjoy it and announced: “I will make sure that it has consequences.” He then didn’t want to elaborate on what exactly Alonso meant by that.
It started with an Internet post from a journalist saying that he had heard a rumor in the paddock that he himself didn’t want to believe. No further details, not even names. However, the nationality of the media worker fueled the imagination of others: he is Spanish, like Alonso, the two-time Formula 1 world champion. After an exhilarating start to the season, he is currently just struggling in the Aston Martin and probably doesn’t have too many seasons left in the premier motorsport class.
So the speculation took off – and how. Alonso could switch to Red Bull and replace the massively weak Mexican Sergio Pérez, whose stay for next year may well be in doubt despite his contract. “I hope it remains a rumor and doesn’t become news,” the Spanish journalist wrote a day after his first post on X, formerly Twitter.
It is extremely doubtful that Red Bull will bring in someone like Alonso given Daniel Ricciardo, who is (still) driving for the sister team Alpha Tauri, is just waiting. It is no less doubtful that Red Bull is putting an alpha animal like Alonso, who seems more moderate than before, alongside a three-time world champion Max Verstappen. Even if the thought of this driver pairing would be exciting beyond all speculation.
Meanwhile, Verstappen used the question about his teammate next year to clarify on his own behalf. “I think it’s a bit unfair to have to say who I would rather have as a colleague,” said the 26-year-old. He always had a great relationship with Ricciardo when they were teammates. “But at the same time I also have a great relationship with Checo,” confirmed Verstappen, referring to his current Red Bull partner.