Alonso's Verstappen claim 'strongly' rejected: 'What a load of rubbish!'

After winning four consecutive world titles and narrowly missing out on a fifth by just two points last year, the start of Formula 1's new regulatory era has so far proved a difficult one for the four-time world champion. While he has occasionally produced flashes of the exceptional talent that made him so dominant, he has too often been let down by the RB22, most recently at Silverstone after another incident caused by the rear wing's active aero failure in the closing stages of the race.

With a third of the season now completed, the Dutchman sits only seventh in the drivers' standings, having claimed just two podium finishes. Red Bull, meanwhile, has also fallen well behind its main rivals in the constructors' championship.

More recently, Fernando Alonso backed Verstappen as the best driver on the Formula 1 grid, arguing that his current position in the championship says far more about the performance of his car than his ability: “Max Verstappen is the best driver on the grid and this year he’s going to finish fifth or sixth. I don’t know if F1 is a bit unfair in that sense. But there’s no need to waste time explaining to people who don’t want to understand.”

Responding to the Spaniard's comments on social media, Hill made it clear he disagreed with Alonso's assessment, dismissing the remarks and insisting he did not share that view: “What a load of rubbish! I strongly disagree with FA here.”

With speculation over Max Verstappen's long-term future at Red Bull Racing continuing to grow, Guenther Steiner believes the Dutchman now regrets not joining Mercedes when he had the chance, arguing that such a move is no longer a realistic option.

The former Formula 1 team principal explained that Verstappen could have been considered as an alternative while Mercedes was negotiating George Russell's contract, but uncertainty over the future and the decision to wait for the new regulations ultimately saw that opportunity disappear.

According to Steiner, Verstappen is likely to regret that decision, as Mercedes now has no reason to pursue him. He pointed to the team's faith in Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli, arguing that signing Verstappen would require a significantly larger financial commitment while also risking upsetting the balance within the team. He also suggested that Verstappen's behaviour would not fit as naturally within Mercedes' culture, adding that the team would be far less accepting of the approach he has displayed elsewhere.