Piastri lauds Alonso: 'The stats don't tell the full story'

16:05, 15 Sep

Updated: 18:43, 15 Sep

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byNorberto Mujica

Oscar Piastri has praised Fernando Alonso as "one of the best drivers that the sport has seen."

Fernando Alonso makes hois way around the Hungarian GP paddock. Photo: RacePictures.

"He’s definitely one of the best drivers that the sport has seen."

- Oscar Piastri

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Fernando,” Piastri told GPblog during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend..

“I think he’s definitely a driver where the stats don’t tell the full story of his career, and I think he’s definitely one of the best drivers that the sport has seen.

“He’s someone that’s very fierce on track, but I think he’s obviously an incredible driver and has been through a lot of different eras.”

Piastri, for a time, shared garages at times with Alonso, when the two briefly coincided at Alpine, where the Australian was an aspiring F1 driver, and Alonso was making his F1 comeback, following a two-year hiatus that saw him conquer WEC titles and Le Mans, as well as undertake a Dakar Rally adventure.

“I think watching him work as well a few years ago was quite eye-opening in terms of the questions he was asking, the things he was thinking of, which ultimately probably indirectly sped up some of my learning a little bit.

“He’s a fantastic driver and again, I don’t think his results or stats tell honestly even close to the story of his talent,” Piastri concluded.

Fernando Alonso stares into the F1 paddock at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. Photo: RacePictures.

Fernando Alonso guns for his third F1 world title

The Spaniard will head off into the 2026 season in an Aston Martin car, designed by Adrian Newey - the first time in Alonso's career - powered by Honda, as the British racing green coloured team, under Andy Cowell's leadership seeks to make its way to the very top of Formula One.

As such, the chance to claim that elusive third world title and 33rd Grand Prix win, may be within his grasp, should his equipment finally measure up to his talent.