Verstappen: It's the body, not age, that hinders F1 drivers.

Verstappen: It's the body, not age, that hinders F1 drivers.

      Max Verstappen notes that Fernando Alonso has demonstrated that age alone doesn’t make a Formula 1 driver slower, although the physical demands of the cars tend to increase. During a conversation with Viaplay, the four-time world champion shared a recent discussion with 44-year-old Alonso on a flight to Qatar late in the season. "I was flying to Qatar with Fernando and we talked about it," Verstappen recounted. "For me, it’s intriguing to learn - he’s 44! So I asked him something like, ‘What are your thoughts on that?’ I thought it would be interesting to ask."

      Verstappen mentioned that Alonso asserted that speed doesn’t merely fade with age. "It’s more about physical discomfort," Verstappen clarified. "You encounter more issues, and these cars aren’t the easiest to handle. As you get older, you feel these effects more acutely. Your shoulders, your back, your neck - it requires a lot more effort when you're older."

      Nonetheless, Alonso showed few signs of slowing after the Abu Dhabi season finale, suggesting he wouldn’t even drive a kart until January. However, reports from Spanish media indicate a different story. Just ten days post his last Formula 1 race of the season, Alonso was back on track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, piloting a 2019 Aston Martin Vantage DTM car and giving "hot laps" to guests and journalists. He then participated in the annual A14 Management camp, where he took a motocross car to provide an off-road lesson to his young drivers.

Verstappen: It's the body, not age, that hinders F1 drivers.

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"Cadillac is undertaking a task I once faced" Craig Pollock acknowledges that Cadillac is embarking on a challenging journey as it establishes a Formula 1 team from the ground up, yet he believes the timing for their entry is quite favorable. The former founder of BAR and the person who guided Jacques Villeneuve's career expressed to La Presse Canadienne that Cadillac is tackling similar obstacles that he encountered in the past. "Cadillac is doing what I had to do," Pollock stated. "You begin from zero, and you have to construct the team. That’s incredibly difficult." BAR, known for its rocky start in 1999 when it failed to achieve a single point, eventually made improvements. Pollock emphasized the need to manage expectations wisely this time around. "A team is not merely about assembling 400, 500, or 600 individuals," he elaborated. "Building a team takes considerable time. It may require three to five years." He is confident that Cadillac has taken lessons from previous experiences, citing the hiring of Graeme Lowdon, the former Marussia leader. "They won’t repeat the mistakes we made in the beginning," Pollock remarked, referring to BAR’s early overestimation of their potential for victories in their inaugural season. In contrast to BAR’s situation, Cadillac will enter the sport at a time of complete regulatory changes. "This is unequivocally the best moment to join as the 11th team," Pollock emphasized, highlighting that all competitors are essentially starting anew under the 2026 regulations. Pollock also endorsed Cadillac's selection of seasoned drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. "It’s a clever choice because they bring their experience from previous teams and can assist the engineers in making necessary adjustments," he noted. However, he qualified this by saying, "Both are excellent drivers, but in reality, they have consistently played the role of second driver on their respective teams." Regarding Aston Martin’s prominent recruitment of Adrian Newey, Pollock expressed some caution. Having collaborated briefly with Newey at Williams, he acknowledged the designer's exceptional competence but raised questions about his new position as team principal. "There are never any miracles in F1," Pollock cautioned. "We’ll have to see. It’s not just about him; it’s the entire team that surrounds him. Everyone needs to collaborate. But if he is pulled in two directions... that’s something I would avoid." "Cadillac is undertaking a task I once faced" Craig Pollock acknowledges that Cadillac is embarking on a challenging journey as it establishes a Formula 1 team from the ground up, yet he believes the timing for their entry is quite favorable. The former founder of BAR and the person who guided Jacques Villeneuve's career expressed to La Presse Canadienne that Cadillac is tackling similar obstacles that he encountered in the past. "Cadillac is doing what I had to do," Pollock stated. "You begin from zero, and you have to construct the team. That’s incredibly difficult." BAR, known for its rocky start in 1999 when it failed to achieve a single point, eventually made improvements. Pollock emphasized the need to manage expectations wisely this time around. "A team is not merely about assembling 400, 500, or 600 individuals," he elaborated. "Building a team takes considerable time. It may require three to five years." He is confident that Cadillac has taken lessons from previous experiences, citing the hiring of Graeme Lowdon, the former Marussia leader. "They won’t repeat the mistakes we made in the beginning," Pollock remarked, referring to BAR’s early overestimation of their potential for victories in their inaugural season. In contrast to BAR’s situation, Cadillac will enter the sport at a time of complete regulatory changes. "This is unequivocally the best moment to join as the 11th team," Pollock emphasized, highlighting that all competitors are essentially starting anew under the 2026 regulations. Pollock also endorsed Cadillac's selection of seasoned drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. "It’s a clever choice because they bring their experience from previous teams and can assist the engineers in making necessary adjustments," he noted. However, he qualified this by saying, "Both are excellent drivers, but in reality, they have consistently played the role of second driver on their respective teams." Regarding Aston Martin’s prominent recruitment of Adrian Newey, Pollock expressed some caution. Having collaborated briefly with Newey at Williams, he acknowledged the designer's exceptional competence but raised questions about his new position as team principal. "There are never any miracles in F1," Pollock cautioned. "We’ll have to see. It’s not just about him; it’s the entire team that surrounds him. Everyone needs to collaborate. But if he is pulled in two directions... that’s something I would avoid." Formula 1 | Aston Martin ambassador Pedro de la Rosa is of the opinion that the extensive regulatory overhaul set for 2026 could disrupt the competitive hierarchy during each race. (…) Pollock cautions that patience is essential for Cadillac as they enter Formula 1 for the first time. Pollock cautions that patience is essential for Cadillac as they enter Formula 1 for the first time. Formula 1 | Craig Pollock states that Cadillac has a challenging and extended journey ahead as it establishes a Formula 1 team from the ground up – but emphasizes that the timing of its entry could (…)

Verstappen: It's the body, not age, that hinders F1 drivers.

Formula 1 | Max Verstappen states that Fernando Alonso has demonstrated to him that age by itself does not slow down a Formula 1 driver - rather, it is the physical demands of the cars that have an impact (...).