Alonso is at 40 the oldest driver on the grid, but the Spaniard is still in good shape to take on and beat much younger rivals.
Brundle believes F1 is a very different environment for more experienced drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel than it was when the Briton himself was racing in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Fernando, if he were in the Mercedes I think he has world championship potential,” Brundle said of the current Alpine driver.
“This is how he continues to drive. He seems to maintain the aggressiveness that he always had. Now they are in such good mental and physical shape, with such hydration and nutrition, that the age barrier does not exist.”
“The cars are not as physical as they are loaded to the max. With power steering and all that, they are not as physical as they used to be.”
“Also, when they finish a race they’re not left banged up and limping like my generation used to, where you even took a few hits to the head. So they’re in great shape.”
“And they have experience, especially with a huge rule change we just had. So I think Fernando is still one of the best on the grid.”
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
Photo by: LAT Images
photo by: alpine
photo by: alpine
photo by: alpine
photo by: alpine
photo by: alpine
But Alonso himself disagrees with Brundle’s view on one key point: that winning the championship would only be possible in the Mercedes.
“No, I hope it’s at the Alpine, so I’m not okay with that,” he said when asked to respond to Brundle’s comments.
“We think maybe we can have a chance with the new set of rules that started this year. On a short/medium term schedule, Alpine should be able to contend for the championship.”
“That’s why we’re here and that’s why we work so hard. There’s the budget cap, there’s other things that came into F1. And I think there’s a chance for everyone, and that’s why Alpine and Groupe Renault in general are here.
Brundle believes the F1 grid is strengthened by having experienced drivers like Alonso and Vettel continue to show strong results.
“I think a Formula 1 grid always benefits from world-class drivers like Fernando and Seb, and the youngsters who go after them,” he added.
“That’s perfect, that kind of transition. I think Kimi did the best he could and at the end he was looking forward to getting out. That was the right decision.”
“Isn’t it the same in any sport where young hopefuls appear? You always need the barometer of world champions like Seb and Fernando.”
