Williams Crew Principal James Vowles defends Alex Albon after Fernando Alonso doubles down on ‘very low’ degree high quality F1 drivers remark on the Mexico Metropolis GP.
After a conflict between Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso on the US GP final weekend, Alonso took purpose on the Williams driver with harsh feedback. The 2-time World Champion claimed that the “high quality of the drivers within the decrease third of the grid may be very low, as we noticed immediately with Alex [Albon]”.
The remark got here after a second in the course of the US GP when the 2 drivers collided at Flip 11 on the opening lap, damaging Alonso’s AMR26 and costing him an opportunity at factors. Albon was not penalised for the incident.
Regardless of being introduced with the prospect to take again his harsh feedback, Alonso doubled down on his stance forward of the Mexico Metropolis GP.
Crew Principal disputes Alonso’s declare
Whereas the Aston Martin driver maintains his stance, Albon feels in another way. After being instructed that Alonso doubled down on his feedback, the Williams driver defended the drivers on the decrease finish of the grid.
Williams Crew Principal James Vowles was additionally knowledgeable of Alonso’s feedback. The Briton disagreed together with his declare, explaining as an alternative that the extent is relatively excessive throughout the F1 grid this 12 months.
“To begin with, Fernando [Alonso] is likely one of the greats, and he’s entitled to his opinion, however I disagree with it,” Vowles started. “There was a racing incident. The stewards checked out it. It’s Lap 1. Each had been going for a similar piece of tarmac. There was really, I feel, one of many Haas vehicles additionally, not that it was their fault, however simply the gaps had been all closing. Easy as that.
“The grid immediately is stuffed with race winners and podium contenders, and that features Fernando himself at that time. I don’t assume his feedback actually stand in that regard.”
“Sure, I might say so,” Vowles responded when requested whether or not the 2026 F1 grid was the highest-quality he had seen in his profession.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to assume again if there’s one other 12 months. In all probability I’ll be picked up by some statistician on the market, however for my part, sure, I feel what you’re actually seeing out there may be that everyone knows there’s a reasonably shut combat between all of us on the again, with only some milliseconds separating us.
“Your place on Lap 1 can are inclined to dominate that, which simply means there’s much more scrapping than there was earlier than.”
READ MORE: Fernando Alonso claims F1 Mexico qualifying displays Aston Martin’s “story of the 12 months”