When it comes to naming the top three drivers on the 2026 Formula 1 grid, there are a wealth of differing opinions depending on the ranker’s persuasion and biases.

To start, there’s the question of how you judge them with there being so many facets to an F1 driver. Do you judge just their current form or their past performances as well? Are they underperforming because the car is slow or because of their ability? Judging their championship standings or how they actually did in the race, crashes, DNFs, the list goes on. Luck versus skill versus top engineering?

Every Formula 1 fan would have a different opinion based on what they regard as important.

However, Alan Permane, the team principal of Racing Bulls, has decided to take on the challenge, but he has snubbed some big names in doing so, including the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Racing Bull Principal Names Top 3 Drivers on F1 Grid

While his drivers, Liam Lawson and the 2026 season’s only rookie, Arvid Lindblad, haven’t been out in front getting the headlines, they have been quietly toiling away and taking tidy points hauls.

However, it is not Permane’s own drivers that he has highlighted, as he has looked to other teams to make his list.

Despite his underwhelming 2026 season with Aston Martin, in a car burdened by the new regulations, Permane has listed Fernando Alonso in his top three.

Permane was involved in Alonso’s most successful period in Formula 1 working with Renault, watching the Spaniard become a back-to-back champion in 2005 and 2006, ending the legendary Michael Schumacher‘s run of five consecutive championships with Ferrari.

The 44-year-old has the most race starts in the sport and is in his 23rd season, but has struggled with his choice of team ever since. At McLaren, in 2007, he finished behind then-rookie Hamilton, despite ending the season on the same number of points as the Brit, who had more second-place finishes. He joined Ferrari at the time of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull‘s dominance, but it was his era in red when he would last win a race, in Barcelona in 2013.

Permane’s other inclusions are the four-time world champion Max Verstappen, and the reigning world champion Lando Norris. Both Verstappen and Norris are also struggling with the new regulations, though, not as much as Alonso.

Verstappen is languishing in seventh, which is an unusual sight for the Dutchman, who recovered to second in the championship after a tough start in 2025. Norris, meanwhile, is in fifth, ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri.

However, Permane is standing by his decision and told Mundo Deportivo: “Honestly, I think I put him [Alonso] among the best. I’d probably put Max [Verstappen] first.

Verstappen and Norris were at the forefront of the narrative last year, but have had to fade into the background as Kimi Antonelli has stormed to success with Mercedes, leading the championship at just 19 years of age.

Permane, while continuing to discuss the veteran Spaniard, revealed how impressed he has been by Alonso’s determination and grit at the back of the grid, still seeing the same speed and ability to extract the most performance out of a car, with his easily adaptable driving style.

He added: “What I remember most about Fernando is his ability to extract the absolute maximum performance from any car.

“These days there is a lot of talk about driving style, that one car suits one driver and another doesn’t. I honestly don’t think Fernando has a specific driving style. And I think Max [Verstappen] is similar, although I’ve never worked with him.

With questions being asked about when Alonso will hang up his driving gloves and if this poor season will have any baring on his decision, it is clear that the Spaniard is still highly regarded in the paddock and his talent and work ethic is not going ignored.

Leeds United are set to sell one of their most important starters, and to a Premier League rival, no less. The Whites are on a mission to improve their squad this summer as they look to take the next step towards becoming a Premier League staple after securing safety with relative ease last season.

Daniel Farke shook off his reputation of getting promoted then struggling to keep teams in the Premier League last season, and he is to be rewarded with a significant budget this summer. The Whites are likely to spend, and they also managed to win the Harry Wilson lottery, landing the former Fulham star on a free deal after his superb campaign of last.

But there is a business element to squad building for all clubs, and Leeds have been forced into a difficult business decision this summer.

Struijk on his way out of Leeds

Pascal Struijk was a hugely important player for Farke last season, starting 33 of the 38 Premier League games for the Whites. But as he prepares to go into his final year of his Elland Road deal, Leeds have made the tricky decision to sell the 26-year-old centre-back

The Athletic’s Beren Cross reported: “Leeds verbally agree £20m deal with Brighton for transfer of Pascal Struijk. Formal offer to come, but negotiations concluded today. Leeds pitched new contract, but he wanted fresh challenge and they couldn’t risk losing him for free next summer.”

It’s a tricky deal for Leeds to swallow, given £20million is likely below realistic market value, but the contract situation means Brighton have been able to do a deal at a lower price.

But above all, it will be a big blow for Farke to have lost one of his starting centre-backs, and one who likely still has room to improve, given he is only 26 years of age.

What Brighton are getting in Struijk

Brighton have snapped up Struijk amid a big need at centre-back following the big-money sale of Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham just a couple of weeks ago.

Naturally, Farke is a huge fan of Struijk’s, and he will be disappointed the club couldn’t agree a deal with the Belgian. He said of the defender during last season: “I think he was outstanding, top performance, really like a colossus in the defence, won many, many headers.

“But Pascal was very good on the ball, good in the build-up, important, also aggressive in defending forward, [and showed] good leadership. He was an outstanding player for us in the last season and has proven his worth.

“Of course, he’s a big leader also in the dressing room, but nowadays it’s not just up to one or two players, you need a core group who lead. Each and every player has to show responsibility, but of course, we have a good group of leaders.”

Manchester United have undergone one of the biggest behind-the-scenes transformations in the club’s modern history, with GIVEMESPORT understanding INEOS has introduced a significantly revamped recruitment structure since taking control of football operations.

Multiple sources have outlined how the Red Devils‘ transfer department now operates, with technical director Jason Wilcox holding ultimate authority over football recruitment decisions following a collaborative process involving recruitment, scouting, data analysis and negotiations.

The new model represents a major departure from the structure that oversaw recruitment at Old Trafford for much of the previous decade, with responsibility now spread across several specialist departments before final decisions are made.

How United’s recruitment process works

GIVEMESPORT understands the process begins by identifying the position or player profile the club is looking to strengthen.

From there, Christopher Vivell and his recruitment team take the lead in identifying suitable targets and gathering detailed information on players from across world football. Recruitment assessments are supported by reports from the club’s scouting network before discussions move to the next stage.

United’s data department also plays an important supporting role throughout the process. Rather than driving recruitment decisions, sources indicate data is primarily used to help build longlists, filter potential targets and provide additional analysis as discussions progress.

Kyle Macaulay oversees the club’s senior scouting operation, with his department feeding into the wider recruitment process alongside Vivell’s team.

Potential targets are then ranked and narrowed down before a final shortlist is agreed internally.

While the process is collaborative, GIVEMESPORT understands Wilcox has the final authority over football recruitment decisions.

Another key figure is director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves, who is understood to play a major role in managing relationships with agents and leading negotiations with clubs. Sources describe Hargreaves as having been involved in a number of successful negotiations in recent years, making him an integral part of United’s transfer operation.

Recruitment department has changed dramatically

The current structure bears little resemblance to the one that existed only a few years ago.

INEOS have overseen a substantial overhaul of the recruitment department, with the arrivals of Vivell, Macaulay and Director of Data Michael Sansoni among the most significant appointments as the club has modernised its football operation.

The changes have also coincided with the departures of several long-serving recruitment figures who played central roles under the previous structure.

Former head of scouting Steve Brown, technical chief scout Mick Court and head of recruitment analysis Mark Platt were all key figures in shaping recruitment strategy for much of the previous decade, while Dominic Jordan also held a senior role within the club’s data operation.

Elsewhere, experienced scouts Marcel Bout, Jim Lawlor, Simon Wells and Jose Mayorga have all departed as part of the wider changes behind the scenes.

The result is an almost entirely refreshed recruitment department compared to the one in place three years ago. While supporters naturally focus on who Manchester United sign each transfer window, the club’s biggest transformation has arguably taken place away from the pitch, where a modern, collaborative recruitment structure has been built to shape transfer decisions for years to come.