Piastri Hails Alonso as 'One of the Best Drivers the Sport Has Seen'

Oscar Piastri has offered high praise for Fernando Alonso, calling the two-time world champion "one of the best drivers the sport has seen" and emphasizing that his statistics don't fully capture his immense talent and career longevity.### Why it matters:This commendation from a rising star like Piastri underscores Alonso's enduring impact and revered status within Formula 1, especially as the veteran driver continues his pursuit of an elusive third world championship.### The big picture:During the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Piastri told GPblog that he has "a lot of respect for Fernando" and considers him "someone that's very fierce on track" and "an incredible driver" who has navigated "a lot of different eras."Piastri and Alonso briefly shared the paddock at Alpine, where Piastri was an aspiring F1 driver during Alonso's F1 comeback following a two-year hiatus that saw him conquer WEC titles, Le Mans, and undertake a Dakar Rally adventure.Piastri reflected on observing Alonso's methodical approach, stating, "watching him work... was quite eye-opening in terms of the questions he was asking, the things he was thinking of, which ultimately probably indirectly sped up some of my learning a little bit."He reiterated, "I don’t think his results or stats tell honestly even close to the story of his talent."### What's next:Alonso is set to continue his career with Aston Martin into the 2026 season, where the team will be powered by Honda and feature a car designed by Adrian Newey – a first in Alonso's storied career. Under Andy Cowell's leadership, Aston Martin aims to contend at the pinnacle of Formula 1, offering Alonso a potential golden opportunity to claim his long-sought third world title and add to his 32 Grand Prix victories, should the machinery finally match his prodigious talent.