According to former Brazilian F1 driver Felipe Massa, there is no real contest between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, regardless of age. However, Massa also suggests that Alonso should reflect carefully on his future in Formula 1.
Felipe Massa recalls his time with Fernando Alonso
It’s not only the ongoing Crashgate lawsuit, in which Massa is attempting to claim the 2008 World Championship title and potentially seek compensation, that keeps the former Ferrari driver in the news. Felipe Massa remains an active observer of Formula 1 and, in a long interview with the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport, shared his thoughts on Fernando Alonso. Massa spoke about his experience racing alongside Alonso at Ferrari for four years, from 2010 to 2013, as well as the challenging moment the two-time world champion is currently facing with a fragile, slow, and problematic Aston Martin-Honda.
“Every time I see Fernando Alonso, we greet each other,” Massa explained. “Of course, we are not best friends, but we have shared many dinners and experiences together. He even came to watch one of my races in Brazil, and I have a lot of respect for him as a driver. He has undoubtedly been the best competitor I have ever raced against, and I really hope he continues to enjoy himself in Formula 1, although I am not sure he is enjoying it much at the moment because… well, there are a lot of issues for him. I also hope he will understand at the right moment when it is time to stop. I don’t believe Fernando should stay in F1 only to fight at the back. There are plenty of other categories where he can enjoy himself and the thrill of racing. In any case, I have enormous respect for him as a driver.”
Massa slams Lance Stroll
“In motorsport, age is very important,” Massa continued, “but Fernando is still doing a good job. It’s true that his teammate is not Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, or George Russell, and he could still beat Lance Stroll even at 65.”
This is a bold statement, but Felipe Massa has firsthand experience, having raced alongside the Canadian driver in Williams in 2017. “However,” he added, “it is important to understand when the time has come to retire. I think Lewis Hamilton will also make that decision soon; perhaps now is the right moment to pursue other projects. Aston Martin? For them, it will be a very difficult season, and it won’t be easy to solve all the problems quickly. They first need to understand what to do to improve the car and make the engine and battery work efficiently.”
In other words, the long-awaited 33rd career victory in Formula 1 for Fernando Alonso may remain out of reach this season, as Aston Martin faces significant technical and performance challenges.
Felipe Massa believes that while Fernando Alonso’s raw talent remains untouchable compared to his teammate, the reality of Aston Martin’s 2026 performance deficit might force a difficult conversation about retirement. Based on the content of the Brazilian’s interview, the focus at Silverstone needs to shift from driver comparisons to basic mechanical reliability.
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