Fernando Alonso hopes to capitalize on potential Max Verstappen-Sergio Perez fallout in Red Bull’s “hot environment”

Fernando Alonso will try to gain from a clash at Red Bull to potentially win his 33rd Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso hopes to capitalize on potential Max Verstappen-Sergio Perez fallout in Red Bull’s “hot environment”

Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Max Verstappen

Fernando Alonso is back at the front of the F1 grid this season. The Spanish driver has scored podiums at all the races so far this season. Reigning world champion, Max Verstappen is the only other driver to achieve the same. However, Alonso has failed to convert the podiums into a race victory. The 41-year-old is optimistic about finally returning to the top step of the podium.

The Aston Martin driver mentioned his desire to win his 33rd Grand Prix. A race win Alonso has been waiting for since the 2013 Spanish GP. Fernando Alonso stated, “Hopefully a win will arrive, the 33rd that has been talked about so much.” Although, the 41-year-old did not want to go overboard with his targets. He continued, “But we have to be realistic.” 

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Tensions are on the rise at the Milton Keynes team

Fernando Alonso acknowledged that Red Bull is far ahead of the Silverstone team. But the Spanish driver did not rule out any possibilities. Alonso admitted, “We know that the Red Bulls are too far ahead now. But hey, anything can happen.”

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Moreover, the 41-year-old brought up the reliability woes at Milton Keynes. Though more importantly, Fernando Alonso expected to gain from the rising tensions between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. The Spaniard concluded, “A reliability problem, a touch between them. We know there has been a lot of talk about them having a hot environment, so we will pay attention.”

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Fernando Alonso expects things to heat up at Red Bull

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Alonso has become a mainstay on the podium in 2023

In the 2023 F1 season, Red Bull has been in a league of its own. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have stayed clear of any real challenge from the grid. Subsequently, the two started to battle against one another. Perez was vocal about being unhappy after Verstappen snatched the fastest lap of the Saudi Arabian GP at the final lap.

Similarly, the reigning world champion was confident that he could beat the Mexican driver if not for the reliability issue during Qualifying. This has raised concerns over the driver pairing. Many believe that Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg-style rivalry is in the making. However, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner dismissed such allegations. Fernando Alonso could be the biggest gainer in such a scenario, as the Spaniard can easily benefit from a clash in front.

Thus, Fernando Alonso has not hidden his hopes to earn from a driver rivalry at Milton Keynes. The Spanish driver might respect Verstappen and Perez. But this is Formula 1. No matter how good relations are on track, no driver will hesitate to gain from a rival’s fall, especially when it’s a ruthless driver like Alonso, who has been waiting for a race win for almost a decade.

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