McLaren boss excludes Hamilton from top three drivers on F1 grid

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has named his top threedrivers on the current Formula 1 grid. The list fails to includeseven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton who ended the season thirdin the Drivers' standings for Mercedes. Stella was promoted to aTeam Principal role at McLaren at the start of the 2023 season andoversaw a successful campaign in which the squad scored ninepodiums. Seven of the top three results went the way of LandoNorris, who unsurprisingly features on Stella's list. There is alsono shock that Max Verstappen, who dominated the F1 campaign enroute to his third title, is included. Stella also named a formerMcLaren driver in the top three list. “My top three drivers withthe same cars would be Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and FernandoAlonso,” Stella told DAZN. Stella also commended rookie OscarPiastri who bagged two podium results for McLaren in his maiden F1season. With 42-year-old Alonso also included in Stella's top threelist, the Italian believes that he sees reminders of the two-timeWorld Champion in Piastri and Norris. “Oscar is talented and let mesay intelligent,” Stella said. “His brain capabilities are veryhigh. He has very interesting characteristics. I would say that heis very calm. “Lando is already one of the best drivers on thegrid. He is very fast, very good in the race, with tyre management.“When I think about Lando, I think that if the team and I gave hima good car, he would be able to fight for the championship. “Whenwe talk about being the most complete, I definitely think ofFernando Alonso. “He basically has no weaknesses. I think thismakes him unique. He is not the best in many things, but he is verystrong in all of them. “I think that in Oscar I see his powerfulmind, he is definitely like Fernando. He can do mathematicalcalculations while driving. “On the other hand, Lando, I think hisdevelopment as a driver will make him so complete. He reminds me alittle of Fernando.”