JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Fernando Alonso believes there is a heightened interest in off-track controversy in Formula One because the sport “is not very exciting at the moment.”
The Aston Martin driver said on Wednesday, the heightened interest in drama off-track shows how predictable F1’s product is right now. Last week Verstappen, who won 19 of 22 races last year, eased to victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix and looks like the comfortable favourite for a fourth straight championship.
“There is too much talk off-track because on-track activities are not very exciting at the moment,” he told reporters. “There is one car winning the last 72 grand prix, more or less dominating three years.
“So, when this happens in a sport, there is always a lot of activity off-track.”
The build-up to the season opener in Bahrain last week was dominated by Christian Horner’s misconduct investigation at Red Bull.
Since those allegations were dismissed, the story has developed into an internal rift between Horner and reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
Additionally, this week news of an internal ethics investigation at the governing FIA emerged.
According to reporting by the BBC, it was claimed a whistleblower has accused FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem of attempting to derail the sign-off of the Las Vegas street circuit, and interfering with the result of last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The race result saw Aston Martin driver Alonso lose and then reclaim a podium finish after a post-race penalty was overturned.
When asked about that incident, Alonso said concerns are “not a problem. It’s more an FIA investigation that we have to respect and see the outcome.
“We are happy with all the evidence and all the proof that we showed last year, so it was quite a clear resolution for us. So let’s see what FIA says on their own investigation, but it’s not really up to us, to Aston Martin.”
Meanwhile, the internal conflict at Red Bull has opened up speculation that Alonso, in the final year of his contract at Aston Martin, could find a pathway to join the world champions if Verstappen were to leave.
Asked what he thought of that link, Alonso, 42, said: “Difficult to comment from the outside, obviously, I read as well some rumours.
“But there were so many rumours in the last two or three months that it’s difficult to believe all of them. So, it’s more a question for Max.”
Mercedes also has an opening for 2025, with Lewis Hamilton set to move to Ferrari.
The two-time world champion suggested he might make a decision on his future soon.
Asked if he thinks he is on Mercedes’ list of potential Hamilton replacements, he said: “Yes, because, obviously, I don’t have any contract at the moment. So, it’s better to be on those lists than in the other series list or being on the retirement [list].
“But I will make the decision to commit for the future in the next few weeks or few races. First of all, I need to speak with myself, I need to make a decision. If I personally want to commit for the future. Obviously, I need to sacrifice everything else in life to be 100% ready for F1. And that will be the decision.
“But list or no list or questions, it’s more to Max, to them, And I will follow with interest the answers.”
