When a Formula 1 season kicks off with technical issues and your team is once again unable to keep up with the frontrunners, most drivers would choose to lie low and avoid the spotlight. But not Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard, despite a difficult start with Aston Martin, has found himself at the center of attention again—not because of his pace on the track, but thanks to his bold statements about his own greatness. In an era where modesty has long fallen out of fashion, Alonso is keen to remind everyone that the number of titles is not the only measure of talent.
In a pre-practice interview in Bahrain, Fernando—exuding his trademark confidence—openly agreed that he is superior to giants like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Max Verstappen. All of them, by the way, have collected far more championship titles than Alonso himself. But in his view, that’s no reason to consider them better. His argument is simple: if you’re racing alongside these people on the same track, you have to believe you’re stronger—otherwise, why even start?
Unapologetic comparisons
In the world of motorsport, where every other person thinks of themselves as a genius, Alonso stands out with his unique approach to self-assessment. He isn’t bothered by the fact that he has just two championship titles while some of his rivals have seven. For him, it’s not the number of trophies that matters, but how you perform when competing against the best. The Spaniard never tires of repeating: if everything were decided only by numbers, the sport would have turned into dull arithmetic long ago.
When journalists started listing the names of champions he had shared the track with, Alonso answered affirmatively without batting an eye when asked if he considered himself better than each of them. Vettel? Yes. Hamilton? Of course. Verstappen? Absolutely. Schumacher? Without a doubt. But only when it came to Senna did a shadow of doubt flicker across the Spaniard’s face. He never met the Brazilian on the track, so, by his logic, comparing himself to Senna wouldn’t be fair.
Titles versus character
The whole story about Alonso’s self-esteem is more than just another episode in the life of a driver with an inflated ego. It reflects a philosophy embraced by many athletes of his generation. For them, it’s not just about winning, but about proving their uniqueness in every race, in every turn. Alonso is convinced: if you don’t believe you can be the best, then you have no place in Formula 1.
He doesn’t hide that he will always put himself above those he’s raced against. According to him, it’s part of the ‘racing driver’s DNA’—an inner challenge that doesn’t let you relax for even a second. Others might have more titles, but it’s precisely his self-belief that allows Alonso to stay competitive even after two decades at the top of motorsport.
Senna beyond comparison
Alonso holds a special regard only for Ayrton Senna. For the first time in the interview, the Spaniard showed respect and caution. He admitted that he cannot compare himself to the Brazilian because he never raced against him on track. For Alonso, this is a matter of principle: you can only judge a rival when you’ve seen them in action with your own eyes, not through archive footage or stories from others.
Even in this admission, however, there’s a hint of his trademark sarcasm: as if to say, had he ever faced Senna on the track, who knows how things would have turned out. But history doesn’t tolerate the subjunctive mood, and it seems Alonso is quite comfortable in the role of Formula 1’s eternal contrarian.
Fernando Alonso is a figure who long ago transcended the role of just a driver. His career isn’t only about two championship titles, but also the endless debates over who is truly the greatest in motorsport history. Over 22 seasons in Formula 1, he has raced against a whole generation of legends, constantly proving that the respect of rivals matters more than any statistical records. Even if his team struggles at the start of another season, Alonso always finds a way to be at the center of attention—even if it’s thanks to bold claims about his own superiority.
Fernando Alonso Díaz is a Spanish racing driver born in Oviedo in 1981. He made his Formula 1 debut in the early 2000s and quickly became one of the most recognizable drivers of his generation. A two-time world champion, he has competed for leading teams such as Renault, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. Alonso is renowned not only for his achievements on the track, but also for his sharp tongue and his ability to generate a constant sense of rivalry around him. His driving style and personality have made him an idol for an entire generation of fans, and debates about his place in Formula 1 history continue to this day.
