After five race weekends, it’s starting to become clear who is currently driving at the top of their game this season.
Max Verstappen is in a league of his own at the front of the grid, but there are other drivers who have stood out so far in 2024.
Speaking on Servus TV at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix, former F1 star Christian Klien was reviewing how the season has gone so far.
While there are several drivers under pressure, others have already confirmed their spots on the grid for 2025.
Lewis Hamilton will be wishing away the next 19 races before he joins Ferrari and McLaren boss Andrea Stella will be delighted Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are already signed up for next year.
The most recent man to put pen to paper is Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin and Christian Klien has been amazed by his level of performance this season.
His new contract means he’ll be in his mid-40s when he comes to the end of his Formula 1 career – if he doesn’t earn another contract in that time.
Alonso once again showed up his teammate Lance Stroll who missed out on points for the third time this season.
While he’s committed to the Aston Martin project, if they’re going to be more ambitious then Lawrence Stroll might have a difficult decision to make.
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Christian Klien amazed by Aston Martin star Fernando Alonso
Despite Klien’s praise, Fernando Alonso didn’t have the best weekend in China and wasn’t helped by Aston Martin’s strategy.
A lack of tyre compound options left him having to do a three-stop race after two poorly timed safety cars for the Spaniard.
However, he still came through the pack to score seven points including a fastest lap.
Alonso has become an expert at maximising the potential of every Grand Prix.
The perfect example of this was in Japan where he kept Oscar Piastri in DRS range to fend off the advancing George Russell.
Russell eventually overtook the McLaren on the final lap, but by then it was too late to overtake Alonso as well.
Aston Martin still have the fifth-fastest car on the grid, but there’s a reason why Alonso is above Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship and within touching distance of Piastri and Russell.
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Talking about the 42-year-old, Klien said: “I think he’s currently at such an insane level that people just want him.
“He leads the team so to speak, motivates the team with his way of working and the results that keep coming in and I think for Aston Martin he’s perfect.
“Now that the drivers are confirmed they can concentrate on the next two seasons.
“They can concentrate on the project for years [to come] and advance the team further.
“Lawrence Stroll has very big and ambitious plans, next year is a little bit early but in 2026 there are big rule changes, the cards will be dealt out again.
“Then they have Honda as a partner who are definitely currently the best engine there is in Formula 1.
“So, that would say it all, everything is possible in the team, they have the wind tunnel next to the new simulator in the factory, new engineers are always coming to them from Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
“So, that’s already a contact point where you and where people like to work.”
Christian Klien’s praise of Alonso has been echoed by Sam Bird who thought he did everything ‘absolutely perfectly’ before being hampered by Aston Martin’s strategy.
Lando Norris believes that Alonso has now done something that will never be seen again in Formula 1.
Even at the age of 42, Alonso has shown he’s more than capable of racing against the very best in the sport.
The post ‘He’s perfect’: Christian Klien absolutely loved F1 star who is driving at an ‘insane level’ this season appeared first on F1 Oversteer.