Fernando Alonso’s scathing F1 driver criticism branded “exaggerated”

Former Formula 1 driver Ivan Capelli has labeled Fernando Alonso's criticism of back-of-the-grid drivers as "exaggerated." Alonso claimed that the bottom third of the grid has "very low" quality following a first-lap collision with Williams driver Alex Albon at the United States Grand Prix, an incident that left Alonso's Aston Martin with significant damage and resulted in a 16th-place finish.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capelli argued that experienced backmarkers such as Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas won races when driving competitive machinery. He noted that trying to compensate for an uncompetitive car naturally increases mistakes, while younger drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli have adapted more easily to modern regulations.