Felipe Massa takes swipe at Lance Stroll while praising Fernando Alonso

Former F1 driver Felipe Massa has reignited the debate over Lance Stroll's credentials by declaring Fernando Alonso the best driver he ever raced against, while simultaneously suggesting the Spaniard could beat his current Aston Martin teammate "even at 65 years old." The comments highlight the perceived performance gap within the team as Aston Martin struggles with its 2026 car.

Why it matters:

Massa's blunt assessment cuts to the heart of a persistent narrative in Formula 1: the challenge of evaluating a driver's true performance without a strong teammate as a benchmark. His remarks underscore the intense scrutiny on Stroll, who races alongside a two-time world champion, and question whether Alonso's continued efforts in a struggling team are worthwhile for his legacy.

The details:

• In an interview with Spanish outlet Diario Sport, Massa placed Alonso above all other rivals from his career, including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel.
• He directly addressed the Alonso-Stroll pairing, stating, "Obviously, his teammate is not Leclerc, Norris, or Russell. He could beat Lance even at 65 years old."
• Massa, who was briefly teammates with Stroll at Williams in 2017, suggested the lack of a competitive benchmark makes it difficult for Alonso to gauge when to retire.
• The criticism comes as Aston Martin endures a difficult start to the 2026 season, with Alonso reportedly forced to retire in China due to extreme vibrations that caused numbness in his hands and feet.

What's next:

Massa's comments add public pressure on both Stroll to elevate his performance and on Aston Martin to provide a more competitive car. The key question is how long Alonso, who remains highly motivated, will tolerate fighting at the back of the grid.

• Massa himself questioned the scenario, saying, "I don't think Fernando is the type of driver who needs to be in Formula 1 just to fight at the end of the field."
• The team's development progress and Stroll's ability to close the gap to his decorated teammate will be critical storylines to watch as the season unfolds.