Lewis Hamilton was not included in Andreas Stella’s top three drivers for Formula 1, and neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri was listed as the top driver by the McLaren team principal.
Hamilton finished third in the 2023 drivers’ standings, owns the record seven world championships, the highest percentage of wins on the current grid, and the most Grand Prix victories in Formula One history.
Having been sponsored by the Woking-based team since his youth, he won his first championship at McLaren in 2008. However, all of that was insufficient for Stella, as he chose to finish behind Hamilton in 2023 in favor of two other drivers.
Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso are my top three drivers when driving the same car, Stella said to DAZN Spain.
“Alonso comes to mind when I have to consider the most all-around driver out there. He is special because he lacks any weaknesses. Although he is not the greatest in some areas, he excels in every one of them.
Stella: Piastri thinks like Alonso does.
Stella praised Oscar Piastri, the Australian, saying he resembles Alonso’s mental characteristics, even though he was left off the list.
Prior to the 2020 season, Piastri joined the Alpine Academy, having already made his F3 debut and won the Formula Renault Eurocup.
As a result, he had ample opportunity to spend time with Alonso when Alpine revealed the Spaniard would be joining the team in 2021 after he had spent most of 2020 preparing for his F1 comeback. This announcement came seven months later.
Following his victories in both F3 and F2, Piastri was left without a drive in 2022 as Alpine’s backup driver. However, following Alonso’s unexpected switch to Aston Martin in a season of great success, it became clear that the Australian had committed to drive for McLaren in 2023 rather than taking Alonso’s place at Enstone.
Under the management of Mark Webber, one of the most composed and classy F1 fans in recent memory and Alonso’s primary title rival for the majority of the 2010 season, Piastri hasn’t shown any indications that the controversy has affected him en route to a ninth-place finish in the 2023 drivers’ championship, two podium finishes, and a sprint race victory.
Stella continued, “I see Piastri as having Alonso’s mindset; both are able to calculate data while driving.”
“Piastri is incredibly calm, gifted, and intelligent. He also possesses very high mental abilities.” Conversely, Norris is already among the best; he is quick and reliable throughout the race, particularly when it comes to tire management. He could compete for the championship if we could get him a nice car.
