'19 Drivers Will Think They Will Not Win Championship' After Seeing Verstappen Says Alonso

Saturday, 24 February 2024 at 10:00

Updated at Saturday, 24 February 2024 at 11:47

Fernando Alonso suggested all the drivers on the grid are already convinced that Max Verstappen will win the Championship even in the 2024 season.

Red Bull Racing was expected to continue the subtle evolution of their RB19 just like they did last year when they didn't really make big changes to the previous RB18.

However, the newly presented 2024 challenger- RB20, seems like a completely different car. The Austrian team made quite a few bold and aggressive changes.

On the one hand, this meant that Red Bull might potentially unlock a lot more pace. On the other hand, it also meant that the team might encounter some obstacles with such a risky design.

Pre-season testing in Bahrain was a crucial point for the team as it was at Bahrain International Circuit where Red Bull could really put their car to the test for the first time.

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The testing started on Wednesday with Max Verstappen. behind the steering wheel of the RB20, and at the end of the day, his best lap time was more than one second clear of everyone else.

While the testing lap times are to be taken with a grain of salt, many drivers have already shared their dooming predictions. Asked about his predictions, Fernando Alonso told the media in Bahrain:

"I don't have a crystal ball to know what the others are doing. I think Max is the world champion and Red Bull is dominating the sport. Also, the concept that they presented this year, it's also a surprise."

Red Bull's Helmut Marko suggested he expects about a three-tenths pace advantage over rivals, and according to Verstappen, drivers can't really make up for more than two-tenths per lap.

Consequently, early signs suggest another dominant season is ahead of us. The Spanish matador added that 19 drivers will have lost their hopes for the championship battle after testing in Bahrain.

"At the moment, we just have to watch them and see how they perform. I think 19 drivers in the paddock now will think that [they] will not win the championship. It happens 99% of the time in your career. This is a brutal sport."