Russell puts things in perspective: 'Verstappen hasn't suddenly become a great driver'

It has now been 11 years since Fernando Alonso last won a Grand Prix in Formula 1. Many people would therefore love to see the Aston Martin driver record his 33rd win. However, George Russell does not think Alonso deserves it more than other F1 drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris.

Russell: 'Alonso doesn't deserve it more than other F1 drivers'

"I think there's many drivers who deserve to win more Grand Prix's and there's many drivers who deserve to be fighting for the championships," Russell stated ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. "You take Lewis and Max as two examples. Lewis was dominating and Max was fighting for a victory here and there and now it's completely the opposite. It's not that Max has suddenly turned into a great driver overnight and Lewis has lost it. It's just because of the way the sport and the regulations have fallen out."

He continued: "So Fernando is one of the best drivers on the grid and deserves to be fighting the same way as Charles and Lando, Lewis and Max as well. We all deserve to be fighting for a championship and for victory and that's ideally where you want the sport to get to. So he doesn't deserve any more or any less than the drivers who I've mentioned."

With his contract extension, which means he will be active as an F1 driver until at least the age of 45, Alonso has increased his chances of more wins. The 42-year-old Spaniard is looking forward to working with Honda, despite the fact that a previous partnership with McLaren was not very successful. What the Japanese engine manufacturer is currently doing together with Red Bull Racing, he says, has given Alonso great confidence in the upcoming partnership.