Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Charles Leclerc has leapt to the defence of Alex Albon as he and other drivers praised the current quality of the Formula 1 grid, following criticism from Fernando Alonso.
Ahead of this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix, Alonso doubled down on claims criticising the standard of driving towards the lower end of the field. It came after Alonso suffered race-changing damage in a collision with Albon at last weekend's United States Grand Prix.
Leclerc, sat alongside Albon in Thursday's press conference, defended the Williams driver. He described the level of the grid as "very high" before adding: "Most of the grid, we grew up together in in karting. Alex was up there and was actually a driver I was looking up to. He was always one or two categories above me, but he was exceptional.
"And I think there was some drivers that were definitely standing out and that have been standing out throughout all the junior categories. And today, I'm sure that the the the the level is super, super high, whether it's in the back, in the middle, or in the front. The only things that change is obviously the the race car that we are that we are driving, but the standards are very high."
Gasly and Bearman reply to Alonso criticism
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Pierre Gasly and Oliver Bearman during the first press conference also stated that they disagree with Alonso's comments.
Gasly said: "You gotta love Fernando for the statements he makes out there and I have so much respect for the driver he is, and at the same time he's very vocal. So I'm not too sure.
"I haven't seen his race so I'm not too sure what he he referred to, but I think I will say that the level on the grid is probably, you know, one of the highest considering all the drivers we have now from what I've seen, which is maybe, like, nine years. I've seen some wild driving approaches when I joined compared to what I see now. But, yeah, I'm not too sure what he referred to."
Bearman, meanwhile said: "I think that's a slightly harsh conclusion because I agree with Pierre that the level is very high on this current grid. I think with the gaps that we face this year, you have to be very opportunistic at times, and and that can end in in disaster like it did for me with last week with with myself and and Pierre.
"So, yeah, I I wouldn't say it's it's a question of quality. It's it's, a question of of trying your very best and and trying to make something happen, which is very challenging when the top eight positions are pretty much all all filled by by the top four teams."
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