Piastri Hails Alonso: 'One of F1's Best, Stats Don't Reflect Full Talent'

Oscar Piastri has lauded Fernando Alonso as "one of the best drivers that the sport has seen," asserting that the Spaniard's career statistics fail to fully capture the extent of his immense talent.### Why it matters:Fernando Alonso, a two-time world champion, is an iconic figure in Formula 1. A rising star like Piastri emphasizing Alonso's impact beyond raw numbers highlights the veteran's unique and enduring legacy in the sport.### The big picture:Piastri, who briefly coincided with Alonso at Alpine, expressed profound respect for the Spanish driver's fierce competitiveness and remarkable adaptability across multiple F1 eras. He observed:* "He’s definitely a driver where the stats don’t tell the full story of his career."* "I think he’s definitely one of the best drivers that the sport has seen."### The details:Piastri found observing Alonso's work ethic and meticulous approach "eye-opening." He credited Alonso's insightful questions and thought processes with indirectly speeding up his own learning curve. Piastri concluded, "I don’t think his results or stats tell honestly even close to the story of his talent."### What's next:Alonso is fiercely pursuing his elusive third F1 world title with Aston Martin. From 2026, the team will feature an Adrian Newey-designed car (a first for Alonso) paired with a Honda power unit. This strategic move positions Alonso to potentially achieve his 33rd Grand Prix win and secure another championship, leveraging new regulations and a powerful technical partnership.