McLaren boss excludes Hamilton from top three drivers on F1 grid

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has named his top three drivers on the current Formula 1 grid.

The list fails to include seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton who ended the season third in the Drivers' standings for Mercedes.

Stella was promoted to a Team Principal role at McLaren at the start of the 2023 season and oversaw a successful campaign in which the squad scored nine podiums.

Seven of the top three results went the way of Lando Norris, who unsurprisingly features on Stella's list.

There is also no shock that Max Verstappen, who dominated the F1 campaign en route to his third title, is included.

Stella also named a former McLaren driver in the top three list.

“My top three drivers with the same cars would be Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso,” Stella told DAZN.

Stella also commended rookie Oscar Piastri who bagged two podium results for McLaren in his maiden F1 season.

With 42-year-old Alonso also included in Stella's top three list, the Italian believes that he sees reminders of the two-time World Champion in Piastri and Norris.

“Oscar is talented and let me say intelligent,” Stella said. “His brain capabilities are very high. He has very interesting characteristics. I would say that he is very calm.

“Lando is already one of the best drivers on the grid. 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 him a good car, he would be able to fight for the championship.

“When we talk about being the most complete, I definitely think of Fernando Alonso.

“He basically has no weaknesses. I think this makes him unique. He is not the best in many things, but he is very strong in all of them.

“I think that in Oscar I see his powerful mind, he is definitely like Fernando. He can do mathematical calculations while driving.

“On the other hand, Lando, I think his development as a driver will make him so complete. He reminds me a little of Fernando.”