Is there a problem with drivers in F1's lower order?

Fernando Alonso caused quite the stir after the United States Grand Prix, given his anger towards one of his peers.

Alex Albon had attempted a move into the Turn 11 hairpin that was certainly optimistic at best, and with Alonso unable to take a wider line due to the presence of another car on his outside, the door closed until Albon had to take to the inside apex curb. The inevitable contact damaged Alonso’s car and compromised both of their races.

“I think when you start at the back there is this risk always,” Alonso said in Austin. “I think the quality of the drivers in the lower third of the grid is very low. As we saw today with Alex, I think we need to improve the car and start a bit higher up.”

Speaking without knowledge of Alonso’s quotes at the time, Albon had joked that he expected to hear what the Spaniard thought of their battle soon enough. But the passing of time did little to ease Alonso’s frustrations when he had arrived in Mexico City.

RELATED: Alonso slams driver quality after Albon clash

“I don't know if it's the one third, because then I saw some reports trying to pick up eight drivers or seven drivers,” Alonso said. “I'm not specific on the number of them. But I think we all know which ones we talk about and which ones felt hit by that comment. So that tells you everything.

“I still feel the same. That was a mistake that was not needed. I still find it difficult to understand what the opportunity was that Alex saw in that moment. But it's not only Austin. I've been, unfortunately, in that part of the race for the whole season. So I see things from the car that I cannot tell you.”

Alonso’s average starting position this year has had him on the ninth or 10th row, meaning he has had a number of weekends where he has been racing the first lap in the lower third of the field. But with experience of uncompetitive machinery at McLaren and even Minardi in the past, he doesn’t believe there has been a drop in standards.

“No, I think it's the same. It's the same over the years. Obviously when you are at the back of the grid, the cars are more difficult to drive. They have less grip, so mistakes are coming more often because you don't have the environment under control. The car doesn't welcoming you in a nice way, so you make more mistakes.

“I don't feel that all the incidents in lap 1, all the touches, all the front wheels that fly around – all these kinds of things are not necessary. Especially if you're fighting for nothing at the back of the grid. Then you have the cost cap also adding to this problem. But if their teams are happy with the cost cap and breaking things every race, it's OK for them.”

The two-time world champion has never been shy to voice an opinion, especially when he feels other drivers are not racing in a respectful manner. Liam Lawson was the subject of his annoyance –  also in Austin – in 2024, but Alonso says he doesn’t think more penalties would resolve his frustration.

“No, I think the stewards, it's not their job. Unless there is something really unsafe, it's not part of the stewards' job. It's just whatever ambition those drivers want for the future. If they want to stay in Formula 1 for longer, if they want to have an opportunity in a bigger team, or if they are happy to crash.”

In the case of the Lawson clash two years ago, Alonso was fighting for lower positions in a Sprint against a driver who was trying to prove himself worthy of a full-time seat, both at Racing Bulls but also Red Bull. Lawson came out on top in that battle, and his approach earned him the Red Bull drive at the start of 2025.

Albon might not be in the same situation right now, but for long spells of his Williams career, he was seen as a driver who had rebuilt his reputation and was worthy of more competitive machinery than he’s had at his disposal. 2026 has certainly not lived up to expectations for team and driver, and perhaps with little to lose – other than financially – his approach is different right now.

Despite his vast experience and success, Alonso did not find himself with a huge amount of support for his comments, with the majority of drivers believing it’s simply a symptom of the competitive picture rather than a lack of talent on the grid.

“I think [the quality] is very high, very, very high,” Charles Leclerc said. “Most of the grid grew up together in karting. Alex [Albon] was up there and was actually a driver I was looking up to. He was always one or two categories above me, but he was exceptional. There were some drivers who were definitely standing out and who have been standing out throughout all the junior categories.

“Today, I'm sure the level of the grid is super, super high, whether it's at the back, in the middle or at the front. The only thing that changes is obviously the race car that we're driving, but the standards are very high.”

Sergio Perez has won races for Red Bull and now finds himself largely at the back of the field in the newest team on the grid, so the Cadillac driver is well-placed to judge the full spectrum of potential.

“This is the only issue with Formula 1: you are as good as your car and your team," said Cadillac's Sergio Perez. Bryn Lennon/Formula 1 via Getty Images

“I think obviously, in the heat of the moment, we all say things that we don't mean or don't feel,” Perez said. “Of course, I think the level at the back is as high as at the front. If we swapped cars with the guys at the front, we'd have very similar results, or vice versa.

“This is the only issue with Formula 1: you are as good as your car and your team. So, I think the level is really high, and when you look at the names at the back, it's really, really high.”

Like Albon with Alonso, Ollie Bearman collided with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap of the race in Austin as he looked to try and put his Haas in a position to score points, and the 21-year-old admits the close nature of the midfield requires an aggressive approach at times that naturally brings extra risk.

“I'm just about in the middle third, not the bottom one, so I get away with it!” Ollie Bearman added. “But no, I think that's a slightly harsh conclusion because … the level is very high on this current grid. With the gaps that we face this year, you have to be very opportunistic at times, and that can end in disaster, like it did for me last week with myself and Pierre.

“So, I wouldn't say it's a question of quality. It's a question of trying your very best and trying to make something happen, which is very challenging when the top eight positions are pretty much all filled by the top four teams.”

For Alonso, perhaps the comments were more out of frustration relating to the fact he didn’t expect to be in this position in 2026. It was earmarked as his return to competitive action at the front, and instead he faces a long spell with Aston Martin trying to climb from the back.

Albon’s move was certainly ambitious and worthy of criticism, but most drivers believe Alonso will be facing stern challenges from high quality opposition in any portion of the grid.