Fernando Alonso did not mince words after tangling with Alex Albon during the opening lap of the United States Grand Prix, branding the standard of drivers at the back of the Formula 1 grid as “very low quality.”
Alonso’s Aston Martin sustained significant damage in a first-lap collision as he and Williams’ Albon battled for position in Austin. Despite no penalty issued by stewards, Alonso was left frustrated after finishing 16th:
“The car is destroyed. I saw it in parc fermé—half the floor is not there. I don’t know how we kept going. With the car in one piece, points were a strong possibility. But [Williams] made sure we didn’t have any chance.”
Alonso suggested that starting further up the grid could have helped him avoid what he labeled “low quality” driving:
“The quality of the drivers in the lower third of the grid is very low, as we saw today with Alex. We need to improve the car and start a little bit higher up.”
Albon, who finished just behind Alonso in 17th, described the incident as an honest racing exchange:
“It’s always fun to race Fernando—he’s strong and fair. Maybe he thought I was a bit over the edge. I was on the inside, tried to get out of the way, but didn’t make it. I got damaged, too, with a broken wing the whole race.”
Alonso felt the contact ruined his most competitive race of the season and cost Aston Martin valuable points in their constructors’ championship fight.
