Max Verstappen has taken his spot as the villain of F1. The man who overthrew the driver of the people, Lewis Hamilton; who’s infamous for his unyeilding and aggressive race craft. “Mad Max” has become an unavoidable phenomenon on the F1 track. However, this role of the antagonist was once reserved for someone else. Someone who has similar qualities to Max himself, the dark lord of F1, Fernando Alonso.
In a viral moment from the latest season of Drive to Survive, Alonso acknowledges his “dark side.” Explaining that in the world of F1, there are good characters and bad ones, Alonso claims there are “heroes and antiheroes.” Comfortable with his place as a member of the latter squad, Alonso simply stated, “I’m still the bad guy.”
And so is Fernando Alonso Welcomes Max Verstappen to the ‘Dark Side’ as Villains of F1 . Booed during victories, and subject to numerous nicknames after the events of Abu Dhabi, Verstappen has certainly embraced his role as the supervillain. And as best pals in the paddock, Alonso enjoys this similarity shared with Verstappen.
Fernando Alonso draws similarities with Max Verstappen
Like looking into a mirror, both the double champions share a lot of uncanny similarities both on and off the track. Alonso stated, “We both come from small countries with little F1 culture.” Further, piling onto the praise, Alonso talks of Verstappen taking his place even on his home ground. “In my time, Spain became blue, and now we see orange everywhere.”
View this post on Instagram
Alonso has no problem with his successor. In fact, it’s a role he’s happy to share as the world of F1 continues to villainize them. ” I don’t know why, but we are both seen as drivers who are aggressive, impolite, and not politically correct.”
Maybe it’s this similarity that brings the fierce competitors close to each other. Always rooting for the other guy, the duo share immense respect for each other. Verstappen was heard saying, “I think Fernando should have already won a lot more races than he has done. I think he deserves a lot more.”
Podium regulars in 2023 🏆🤝 pic.twitter.com/Q3OQl7BteO
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) April 8, 2023
Alonso had returned the kind words to the Dutch Lion, going so far as to put him in a league shared by Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher. “He could win five, six or seven titles.”
As this friendship continues to thrive this season, the dynamic duo has proved to be an unstoppable force on the grid. Having shared the podium for all three races of the season so far, surely being the villain comes with its benefits.
