The 'common theme' shared by Verstappen, Alonso and Vettel

Aston Martin Technical Director Dan Fallows has identified a "key" ability shared by some of the most successful Formula 1 drivers he has worked with, such as Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

Prior to joining Aston Martin, Fallows worked at Red Bull and was a part of the squad during their championship-winning period of dominance between 2010 and 2013.

Over the years the Briton has worked with a host of well-known names in the sport, and believes that there is a particular skill that sets apart the particularly talented drivers.

Fallows on skill of greatest F1 drivers

When asked what similarities the likes of World Champions Verstappen, Alonso and Vettel share on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Fallows explained: "They have that ability to add that extra couple of tenths to the performance of the car.

"I don't really know where that comes from, that's a sort of raw talent. But the one thing that they all certainly have in common is their ability to describe how the cars behave.

"It's not unique to the greatest drivers that we've seen, but it's certainly something they all share, is that ability to get in the car and say with very great precision exactly where they could go faster if you change the behaviour of the car."

Ability to be precise 'sets them apart'

It is this skill that Fallows believes marks a difference between the good drivers and the great.

"I think that's a really key thing," he continued.

"I think a lot of drivers can explain how the car is behaving or [say if they've] got a bit of oversteer here and a bit of understeer there and this is how the tyre changed, and so on.

"But the really great ones – and it is definitely a common theme – are the ones who can say, 'You know what, I've got understeer here but, to go quicker, I need you to fix this corner. I need this.'

"That's the thing that sets them apart, I think."