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According to Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso doesn't belong at the back of the grid every race weekend. The Dutchman admits he would completely understand if the Spaniard chose to retire due to the current regulations.
One topic overshadows everything else in Hungary: Aston Martin's major upgrade package for this weekend. The Silverstone-based team deliberately opted, unlike its rivals, not to introduce small updates over several races, but instead put all its chips on what is essentially a 'B-spec' car compared to the one they started the year with.
Both Aston Martin drivers will have a new chassis, a new aerodynamic concept, and, according to Mike Krack, a different car rake philosophy this weekend. However, the gearbox and power unit remain unchanged, with Honda expected to introduce its first ADUO upgrade at Zandvoort.
Aston Martin is banking on a significant leap forward from this weekend, with high stakes involved. The team needs to demonstrate substantial progress, not only to owner Lawrence Stroll but also to Fernando Alonso.
The two-time world champion is eager to see light at the end of the tunnel after a challenging first half of the season, but he has already hinted that his decision about the future depends more on the regulations than on Aston Martin's competitiveness.
This is a mindset that Max Verstappen fully understands and shares.
"Yes, I completely agree with him," the Dutchman stated in Hungary. "It's not something you want. Of course, Fernando is 44, so for him, it's probably easier to say 'I'm quitting' because he has practically already built his career."
"I would love to see Fernando race until he's 60, but I don't think that's realistic in Formula 1."
As is well known, Verstappen is also not a fan of the current regulations, but it appears he will remain in Formula 1. Speaking in Hungary, the Dutchman explained why his situation differs from Alonso's.
"I'm 28 years old, so it's a bit different. Of course, I could easily stop, it's not a problem, but I love to race."
"I'm just trying to deal with what we have, even though what we have right now isn't what I like."
During the media day in Hungary, Verstappen stated that the fastest drivers in Formula 1 can no longer make a significant difference.
While the RB22 isn't as competitive as Verstappen would like, he is still fighting at the front. This certainly hasn't been the case for Alonso so far in 2026, although according to Verstappen, this should be the basis for any assessment of his driving skills.
"As a true racer, it's tough, especially when you're not enjoying the regulations and you're not competitive at the moment. It's difficult because Fernando, of course, doesn't deserve to be in 21st place. Fernando deserves to be in the top five at a minimum."
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