F1 | Piquet Jr.: "Alonso has more passion than Hamilton."

Nelson Picket Jr. He returned to talk about Formula 1, comparing three big names in the paddock: Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton e Max VerstappenThe former Brazilian driver, who raced in F1 between 2008 and 2009, particularly praised Alonso's extraordinary sporting longevity, underlining how the Spaniard continues to compete today with the same intensity and determination as in his best years.

Interviewed by Soy Motor in Valencia, Piquet Jr. explained that what strikes him most about the Spaniard is not only his natural talent, but above all his ability to maintain his motivation despite the passage of time. This is an aspect that, in his opinion, makes the two-time world champion almost unique in the recent history of Formula 1.

Alonso, the hunger of a rookie with the experience of a veteran

Fernando Alonso, now forty-four, is an extraordinary figure in modern motorsport. After more than two decades at the highest levels, the Spanish driver continues to be competitive and demonstrates a desire to win that surprises both industry insiders and fans.

According to Piquet Jr., it is precisely this competitive hunger that makes the difference:

"His speed, he's a very fast guy, always very hungry. He has the same motivation and hunger as he did twenty years ago. That's something very admirable."

The comparison with Hamilton

The former Brazilian driver's most powerful comments, however, concern Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, is described by Piquet Jr. as less motivated than his Spanish rival.

According to the Brazilian, Hamilton does not show the same level of passion today that continues to animate Alonso:

“You don't see the same thing with Lewis, for example. Lewis doesn't have the love, passion, and hunger that Fernando still has, and he's older. He's five or six years older than me and Lewis's generation, and he has more passion than many other drivers, and he's very respectable.”

Hamilton remains one of the absolute protagonists of the Circus and has built an extraordinary career filled with records, world titles, and memorable victories. However, for Piquet Jr., the emotional and motivational comparison would undoubtedly favor Alonso. It should be remembered that the Spaniard and Hamilton have a historic rivalry that began in 2007, when the two were teammates at McLaren in one of the most tense seasons in Formula 1. Since then, their names have often been linked, and any comparison between the two inevitably generates attention.

Memories of the years at Renault

Piquet Jr. knows Alonso well, having shared the Renault garage with him in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. For this reason, his assessment takes on particular weight. The Brazilian explained how the Spaniard's level was already extremely high in those years and how, almost two decades later, it has changed surprisingly little.

“When I raced against him, we're talking about 2008, he was at his peak, he was very difficult to beat, I respect him a lot as a driver”

Verstappen in the same group as the greats

Piquet Jr.'s reasoning also includes Max Verstappen, a dominant force in recent years and considered by many to be the natural heir to the great champions of the past. The Brazilian sees something in common between the Dutch driver and Alonso: a genuine love of racing.

“Fernando is like Max, they both love racing. He's a very fast driver.”

For the Brazilian, the best aren't defined solely by numbers or titles won, but by a genuine passion for competition. It's that inner spark that drives a champion to always push the limits, to constantly improve, and to never lose enthusiasm even after years of success. Finally, Piquet Jr. also reflected on Verstappen's future. If Formula 1 were to change direction or no longer offer the right motivation, the Dutch champion might look elsewhere.

“If things don’t change in F1, Verstappen might want to do something else.”