After Fernando Alonso was hit by Alexander Albon on the opening lap of the US Grand Prix in Austin – which, according to Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer Mike Krack, cost him a considerable amount of downforce – the two-time world champion was highly critical of the current driving standards in Formula 1.

“When you start at the back, there is always this risk. I think the quality of the drivers in the lower third of the grid is very low, as we saw today with Alex. So I think we need to improve the car and start a little bit higher up,” Alonso said in the media pen after Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Although that was understandably a comment made in the heat of the moment – especially as Aston Martin’s pure pace was, according to Alonso, good enough to challenge for points – he made it clear during media day in Mexico City that he still fully stands by his words.

“I don’t know if it’s one third of the grid, because then I saw some reports trying to pick out eight drivers or seven drivers. I’m not specific about the number of them, but I think we all know which ones we are talking about and which ones felt targeted by that comment,” he explained.