Fernando Alonso has fired shots at Lewis Hamilton, claiming the Brit will crumble under the pressure of Max Verstappen and miss out on an eighth world title. The Mercedes and Red Bull stars are expected to take their fight right down to the wire.
Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points heading into this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.
Alonso, who won back-to-back Drivers’ Championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, knows exactly what it takes to take home motorsport’s biggest prize.
And he reckons Hamilton will not be able to maintain his highest level for the duration of the campaign.
“Do I think Lewis will succumb to the pressure? Yes, thanks to Max. 100 per cent,” Alonso told De Telegraaf.
“When Lewis only has to fight with his team-mate Valtteri Bottas for the title, everything is great. Now he feels some pressure and he gets into trouble.”
Hamilton and Verstappen’s nail-biting battle has led to the pair crashing at Silverstone and Monza.
But Alonso thinks the younger Verstappen came out of those incidents much worse than his experienced foe.
“Look at the two incidents between Max and Lewis, this year,” the Alpine driver said. “Those are not judged equally in my opinion.
“After the contact in Silverstone, Red Bull intervened, but otherwise it remained fairly quiet.
“They are at their top level every weekend. Whether it’s wet, dry or very windy.
“The way Max stepped in at Red Bull and was right there, I don’t think anyone is capable of doing that.”