The prospect of being Max Verstappen’s teammate appears to be one of the most difficult challenges a Formula 1 driver can face.
Ever since he started driving for Toro Rosso back in 2016, he’s had the upper hand over the driver in the car opposite him in the garage.
It’s why Christijan Albers, speaking on De Telegraaf’s F1 Podcast, has warned Christian Horner that one of the options he’s considering to replace Sergio Perez would be a bad idea.
The Mexican driver failed to deliver in Melbourne after Max Verstappen retired from the race following a brake issue.
His car was reportedly damaged but his rivals were still surprised by his lack of pace.
Plenty of drivers would love to put themselves in the frame to partner with Verstappen from 2025 onwards.
But Red Bull have been told that they cannot sign Fernando Alonso as his teammate despite the Spaniard being one of the fastest men on the grid.
His contract at Aston Martin expires at the end of the year and he’s unlikely to turn down the opportunity to join the quickest team in the paddock.
However, the dynamic between him and Verstappen may be too much for anyone within the team to cope with.
Christijan Albers tells Red Bull they cannot sign Fernando Alonso
Red Bull are being forced to consider replacements for both of their drivers heading into next season.
Max Verstappen has been linked with Mercedes while Aston Martin executive chairman Lawrence Stroll is also a big fan.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has already shown this year that anything can happen in the driver market, but it’s still very difficult to see the Dutchman abandon the fastest car on the grid.
Sergio Perez’s position is under a lot more threat at this stage.
Fernando Alonso is Red Bull team principal Christian Horner’s ‘preferred candidate’ to replace the 34-year-old, but Albers has warned the team that a move for the two-time world champion would be a mistake.
He believes that the Spaniard won’t want to end his career potentially being beaten by his teammate after years of being the number one driver wherever he’s gone.
Christijan Albers fires warning to Horner over his preferred Perez replacement
Talking about the situation within the Austrian team, Albers said: “This is just an ’emergency plan’ from (Christian) Horner in case Verstappen leaves.
“You absolutely cannot put the two side by side. That won’t go well at all.
“Then everyone can say Alonso has calmed down, but that really won’t work out. Alonso is really not going to let himself be beaten in his last year of driving F1.
“He is never, never, never going to do that alongside Max Verstappen.
“Alonso can only be an option if Verstappen leaves. I never see Alonso next to Verstappen. Alonso is not going to get crushed in the last year of his career.”
Red Bull have never wanted two alphas in the car
While Albers believes Alonso cannot join Red Bull while Verstappen is still there, the 42-year-old would almost certainly back himself to win races and potentially a title in that car.
However, Horner has already admitted that having two alpha males wouldn’t be ‘conducive’ for the team.
Verstappen has never had to see off a challenge from a teammate before, with Perez the first driver to help the team achieve a one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship last year despite finishing hundreds of points behind him.
It wouldn’t take long for Alonso to get up to speed in the Red Bull and he would be putting in performances on a very similar level to the 26-year-old.
It’s a move that plenty of F1 fans would get behind, but might not be the best decision Red Bull could make for the balance of a team already dealing with plenty of internal politics.
The post ‘Absolutely cannot’: Red Bull told they simply can’t hire 106-podium driver as Verstappen’s teammate – Albers appeared first on F1 Oversteer.