Webber critical of Alpine's choice: "Where is the new Max Verstappen?"

Mark Webber is of the opinion that Alpine, formerly Renault F1, did not make the right choice by signing Fernando Alonso for two years. The Australian would have preferred a new talent to come through as happened in the past with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc at Red Bull and Ferrari.

Speaking to On The Marbles podcast Webber talks about bringing Alonso to the French team. The Spaniard was allowed to return to Formula 1 after a few years of absence. "I have enormous respect for Fernando, he is one of the best there has ever been in our sport. He has been there from the start with great determination and has achieved some incredible things. At his peak, there weren't many better on Sunday," Webber begins with praise.

Better give youth a chance

Despite endorsing Alonso's qualities, Webber doesn't think he should have come to Alpine because the Spaniard would be getting in the way of youth: "Where's the next Max Verstappen, the next Charles Leclerc? They are great for this sport - as Fernando was when he was driving at the age of 20. Of course Fernando is still a big name now - for his native Spain and for the sport. But I would like to see us focus more on the future, to find the Alonso we discovered 20 years ago," Webber concludes.