Zak Brown snubs Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to name the ‘most special talent’ in F1

Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver in F1.

Zak Brown snubs Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen to name the ‘most special talent’ in F1

Lewis Hamilton, Zak Brown, and Max Verstappen(all images via IMAGO)

The F1 paddock is often heard about commenting who according to them is the greatest driver to have ever graced the sport. While Lewis Hamilton has been a long-time member of such lists, Max Verstappen has emerged as a possible contender for the spot in recent times. However, snubbing both of them, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown claimed Fernando Alonso was the most special talent in F1 that he has ever witnessed.

Fernando Alonso debuted in 2001 with Minardi. The Spaniard soon trundled waves in the paddock and joined Renault subsequently. This partnership helped him earn his first victory and then won two consecutive world championships. However, he parted ways with the French team to join McLaren in 2007 and later joined them back in 2015. However, he was unable to recreate his success at the English outfit and currently drives for Aston Martin.

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Despite not winning a race in more than a decade, the Spaniard has been a contender for the top spots in recent years. Witnessing his ability, Zak Brown claimed Alonso to be the most special talent in F1.

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If we were to take away Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, for obvious reasons, I would say that Fernando Alonso is the most special talent. It's amazing to watch him run, he's very clever.
Zak Brown said in an interview with DAZN

The American stated that except for the current McLaren pair, the 43-year-old is the most special talent, disregarding Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Moreover, it is often reckoned that Alonso’s number of championships does not do justice to his abilities inside an F1 machinery.

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Zak Brown revealed his regret from working with Fernando Alonso at McLaren

While he reckoned the Spanish driver to be the most talented, Brown himself had the chance to personally work with Alonso. However, during their time together, the Spaniard was often left frustrated by the car’s performance and left the team after the conclusion of the 2018 season.

McLaren's Zak Brown and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso
Zak Brown(L) and Fernando Alonso(R), images via IMAGO

Brown admitted it to be a shame for not being able to give Alonso a race-winning machinery.

It was a shame not to be able to give him a better car when he drove for us.
Zak Brown said in an interview with DAZN

During his second stint at Woking, the former world champion often struggled with inferior machinery. His highlights were four top-five finishes in four years, which led him to leave the team.

On the other hand, the 43-year-old returned from his sabbatical in 2021 and joined Alpine. He currently drives for Aston Martin and will be driving for the Silverstone-based outfit for a few more years.

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