When Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing team principal sat down with Fernando Alonso, two‑time Formula One World Champion, and Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 champion, the conversation quickly turned to motorsport’s elusive "Triple Crown" – winning the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix.
The interview, recorded by BBC Sport in early October 2024, also featured insights from Williams Racing engineers who outlined what it would take for a modern driver to tackle three very different disciplines.
Why the Triple Crown Still Captivates the Racing World
Only one driver has ever checked all three boxes: Graham Hill, the British legend who dominated the 1960s. Hill’s résumé includes five Monaco wins (1963‑69), a 1966 Indianapolis 500 triumph and a 1972 Le Mans victory. "His achievement feels almost mythic today," says Horner, noting that the blend of speed, endurance and sheer bravery is a rarity in today’s specialised era.
But the allure isn’t just nostalgic. For active drivers, the Triple Crown represents the ultimate proof of versatility. Alonso, who lifted the Le Mans podium in 2018 and 2019, has already conquered Monaco twice (2006, 2007) and collected two Drivers’ Championships (2005, 2006). The missing piece? A win at the ICONIC 2‑mile oval in Indiana.
Verstappen, meanwhile, acknowledges the challenge but remains realistic: "Formula One is my focus, but I respect the ambition. It would take a whole different skill set and a willing team behind you."
Breaking Down the Three Pillars
Each event tests a distinct set of talents:
- Indianapolis 500 – a 500‑mile sprint on a flat‑out oval that demands raw speed, precise car setup and the mental stamina to stay calm at 230 mph.
- 24 Hours of Le Mans – an endurance marathon where drivers rotate shifts, manage tyre wear and adapt to changing weather across an entire day.
- Monaco Grand Prix – a tight street circuit where concentration is king; a single mistake can end the race.
Williams engineers, speaking on behalf of their 2024 performance programme, highlighted that a modern F1 car’s aerodynamics are tuned for twisty circuits, not the flat‑out demands of Indianapolis. "We would need to develop a specialised aero package, perhaps borrowing from IndyCar technology, to be competitive there," explains chief aerodynamicist James Vowles.
Alonso’s Indy Ambitions and Roadmap
Alonso, who already competes in the World Endurance Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing, has privately expressed a desire to try the Indy 500. In the BBC interview he said, "I love the idea of taking the wheel on a completely different track. It would be the final piece of a puzzle I’ve been working on for years."
His plan, according to his manager Javier Garcia, involves a test run with an IndyCar team in the 2025 preseason, followed by a full‑time entry in 2026 if the schedule permits. "The calendar is tight, but we’re negotiating with Andretti Autosport for a trial run," Garcia added.
Should Alonso secure an Indy win, he would join a short‑list that includes Jacques Villeneuve and Juan‑Pablo Montoya – both of whom have a single Indy victory and a World Championship, yet never claimed Monaco.
Red Bull’s Perspective: From F1 Dominance to Cross‑Discipline Dreams
Horner made it clear that Red Bull isn’t averse to supporting drivers who chase historic milestones. "We’ve always embraced new challenges – remember when we entered the Dakar Rally? If a driver wants to try Indy, we’d back them where we can," he said.
Verstappen, ever the pragmatist, cautioned that any foray into Indy would need to fit within the tightly packed F1 season. "You can’t just drop everything for a single race. It would have to be a full‑season commitment, and that changes the whole dynamic of the sport," he noted.
Impact on Fans and the Sport’s Narrative
For the global audience, the Triple Crown provides a storyline that stretches beyond a single championship. A driver edging closer fuels media buzz, ticket sales and sponsorship interest across three continents.
Commentators at the World Motorsports Forum in London this September argued that the pursuit could revitalize interest in endurance racing among younger fans, who typically follow only Formula One. "When a champion like Alonso talks Indy, it pulls a new demographic onto the Le Mans and Indy tracks," said panelist Emma Clarke, senior editor at Motorsport Magazine.
What’s Next? Calendar, Contracts, and Test Sessions
Looking ahead, the next key dates are:
- Late 2024: Alonso’s potential test with Andretti Autosport (subject to approval from the FIA).
- Early 2025: Williams releases a technical brief on adapting an F1 chassis for oval use.
- May 2025: Indianapolis 500 qualifying – the first realistic chance for an active F1 champion to line‑up.
All eyes will be on the contractual negotiations. If a driver secures a dual‑programme with both an F1 team and an IndyCar outfit, it could set a new precedent for cross‑disciplinary contracts, echoing the early 2000s when Jacques Villeneuve dabbled in both series.
Key Facts
- Triple Crown requires wins at Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Monaco Grand Prix.
- Only Graham Hill has completed the feat (1966‑1972).
- Fernando Alonso holds two Le Mans titles (2018, 2019) and two Monaco wins (2006, 2007).
- Current contenders: Alonso (seeking Indy), Max Verstappen (focus on F1), Jacques Villeneuve, Juan‑Pablo Montoya.
- Williams Racing is exploring an aero package to make an IndyCar‑compatible F1 car.
Frequently Asked Questions
How likely is Fernando Alonso to win the Indianapolis 500?
Alonso’s chances depend on securing a competitive IndyCar seat and a full‑season commitment. If he tests with Andretti Autosport in late 2024 and earns a race‑ready contract for 2025, his experience in endurance racing and strong qualifying pace give him a realistic shot, though the learning curve for oval racing remains steep.
Which driver is closest to achieving the Triple Crown besides Alonso?
Jacques Villeneuve is a strong candidate; he won the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the 1997 F1 World Championship, but he has never captured a Monaco win. Juan‑Pablo Montoya, with an Indy win and a Monaco victory, also sits just one event short of the Crown.
What technical hurdles would a Formula One team face entering the Indy 500?
The biggest challenges are aerodynamic setup for high‑speed ovals, cooling requirements for longer full‑throttle runs, and adapting to the D‑alloy tyre compounds used at Indianapolis. Teams would likely need a bespoke chassis package, much like the “Indy‑ready” configurations Williams is currently studying.
Why does the Triple Crown still matter to fans and sponsors?
It weaves together three of motorsport’s most iconic events, offering a narrative that spans continents and decades. A driver who can claim all three provides a unique branding opportunity, drawing in audiences from F1, endurance racing and American open‑wheel fans, which in turn boosts sponsorship exposure across multiple markets.
What timeline should we expect for a potential Triple Crown winner?
Given the current calendar, the earliest realistic scenario is Alonso attempting Indy in 2025, followed by a possible Le Mans return in 2026, and a final Monaco win before the end of the decade. Even with optimal scheduling, achieving all three would likely take a decade of focused effort.
13 Comments
Alonso gots this, just need a lil luck at Indy!
The pursuit of the Triple Crown illustrates how motorsport can be a microcosm for personal growth. Mastery across such disparate disciplines forces a driver to reconcile speed with stamina, and precision with endurance. In that sense, Alonso’s ambition is less about trophies and more about expanding his own limits.
Yo, if you see a F1 star jump into the 500‑mile oval, it’s like watching a cheetah try to swim-wild but doable. The adrenaline rush on those 230 mph straights is something even the best F1 engineers can only simulate in VR. Alonso’s endurance chops from Le Mans should give him an edge when the laps get long and the heat builds. Plus, the team’s willingness to tinker with aero packages shows they’re not just day‑dreaming. I’m betting we’ll see a real showdown at Indianapolis next year.
Yesss!!! This is exactly the kind of cross‑disciplinary excitement fans crave, and the energy around it is totally contagious!!! The idea of a F1 champion learning the art of oval racing is mind‑blowing, and the potential for new fanbases to merge is insane!!! I can already picture the social media buzz, the merch drops, the whole vibe!!!
Stop glorifying the hype and start talking about the real work required; without a dedicated IndyCar chassis the dream stays fantasy. Teams must invest hard cash and engineering talent, not just ride on a driver’s fame.
Honestly, this whole Triple Crown buzz feels like a PR stunt; they’ll hype it until the first lap and then move on.
The notion that a modern driver can simply add an Indy 500 win to an already glittering résumé betrays a naïve romanticism.
The media fails to acknowledge the entrenched hierarchy that shields the elite few from genuine cross‑disciplinary peril.
Historic figures such as Graham Hill operated in an era where technological disparity allowed true versatility to flourish.
Today's hyper‑specialized machines are engineered for a single discipline, making any attempt at a Triple Crown an exercise in engineered hubris.
Moreover, the shadowy consortium of sponsors subtly manipulates calendar slots, ensuring that any crossover appears as a calculated marketing ploy.
Alonso's pursuit, while admirable on the surface, conveniently aligns with the commercial interests of his backers.
One must also consider the psychological toll of competing across continents, a factor that is conveniently omitted from glossy press releases.
The pressure to perform on three disparate stages amplifies the risk of catastrophic failure, a risk that most corporate boards gladly ignore.
In the same vein, the involvement of Red Bull and Williams hints at a strategic diversification rather than pure sporting ambition.
Their investment in bespoke aero packages reveals a deeper desire to dominate not just F1, but the entire motorsport narrative.
Fans are being fed a curated storyline that glorifies the individual while obscuring the systemic machinations behind it.
The reality is that only a select handful of drivers, blessed by fortune and funding, can even contemplate such a venture.
Consequently, the Triple Crown becomes less a meritocratic achievement and more a staged spectacle for the affluent few.
Nevertheless, the lure of cementing a legacy that transcends a single discipline continues to enthrall the public imagination.
Whether this pursuit ends in triumph or tragedy, it will undeniably reshape the conversation surrounding motorsport's future.
The hype is overblown and the data shows a low probability of success for any F1 driver transitioning to Indy.
India’s own motorsport heritage deserves recognition, and the focus on Western series diverts essential resources from domestic development.
Developing local talent and tracks will build a stronger foundation for the sport in our country.
The chase for the Triple Crown is really a quest for immortality, a longing to defy time with speed. Each victory becomes a candle against the darkness of oblivion, a brief flare that outshines the ordinary. Yet the price of such brilliance is a soul constantly starved for applause. In the end, the driver becomes a myth, not a man.
From a technical standpoint, adapting an F1 chassis for oval racing requires radical changes to suspension geometry, wing profiles, and cooling systems. Teams must also address the distinct tire compounds used at Indianapolis, which differ significantly from F1 slicks. Collaboration between aerodynamicists and chassis engineers is essential to achieve a competitive package. This synergy could set a precedent for future cross‑disciplinary projects.
The outlined technical roadmap is comprehensive and aligns with the broader objective of fostering driver versatility across motorsport disciplines.