Fernando Alonso gives verdict on Max Verstappen’s F1 title: “I had doubts he could win”. Fernando Alonso reacts to the F1 title battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

A battle that ended early
During the Abu Dhabi weekend, the last of the season, Formula 1 crowned the Constructors’ Champion, with McLaren managing to stay ahead of Ferrari and claiming the title for the first time since 1998. The Drivers’ Championship, however, had already been decided mathematically in Las Vegas, with Max Verstappen securing his fourth consecutive World Championship two rounds early. The last to challenge the fan-favorite Dutchman was Lando Norris, who many believe could have extended the fight further without a series of mistakes—his own and the team’s—that cost him significant points.

Fernando Alonso pays tribute to Max Verstappen
Speaking to journalists at Yas Marina, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso—who shares a notably close personal bond with Max Verstappen—admitted he had serious doubts about the Red Bull driver’s chances of retaining the championship this year.

“I doubted it, yes,” the former Ferrari driver admitted. “When I saw that the car was sometimes only the third or fourth fastest and when I saw McLaren take a one-two finish just before the summer and win with Lando at Zandvoort by over 20 seconds, I thought the championship would be undecided until Abu Dhabi. But in the end, it wasn’t because there was one exceptional driver.” – the Spanish driver concluded.