When naming the top three drivers in Formula One right now, Sir Lewis Hamilton was unexpectedly left out by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
Hamilton has been regarded as one of the best drivers on the grid since his debut in 2007. During that time, he has won 103 grand prix and a record seven world titles.
Even though the British sports legend did not add to his total in 2023, it was still a fantastic year for him as he finished third in the championship—highest among drivers who were not Red Bull drivers.
Despite the fact that Hamilton is regarded by many as being on par with Max Verstappen, who has won the last three races in a row, it is believed that a race between the two would be close if they were to compete in equal equipment.
Stella, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to agree, promoting Lando Norris of McLaren and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin as the two greatest drivers in addition to Verstappen.
One of the top drivers on the grid right now is Lando. Italian said to DAZN.
He is really quick, adept at managing his tires during a race, and so on. When I consider Lando, I believe he could contend for the championship if the team and I provided him with a high-quality vehicle.
Fernando Alonso is the first person that comes to mind when we discuss being the most comprehensive. In essence, he is impervious.
This, in my opinion, sets him apart. While he may not be the greatest at everything, he excels at everything.
“Lando, I believe he will become so much more complete as a driver.” He kind of reminds me of Fernando.
“Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso would be my top three drivers if we had the same cars.”
It is odd to see Hamilton left out, even though Alonso and Norris are undoubtedly among the best drivers on the grid—the former is a two-time champion, of course—though Stella does have connections to the other two.
Stella was Alonso’s race engineer for five years while he was with the Scuderia and is currently Norris’ supervisor. In 2015, Stella followed the Spaniard to McLaren.
