The long-standing rivalry between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton traces its roots back to 2007 when both drivers found themselves on the same team at McLaren. It was a momentous occasion as Hamilton embarked on his debut season, while Alonso joined the team fresh off his triumphs at Renault, making it a dream collaboration for McLaren.
However, as the season unfolded, their relationship took a tumultuous turn. The disagreements between Alonso and Hamilton escalated to a point of spectacle, exacerbated by Alonso’s involvement in the infamous ‘Spygate’ scandal. Ultimately, the duo parted ways at the end of that year, each venturing down separate paths.
Although Alonso’s subsequent career didn’t witness any additional championship victories, Hamilton went on to forge a highly successful partnership with Mercedes. This fruitful alliance led to an unprecedented achievement of eight Constructors’ titles and an additional six Drivers’ Championships, solidifying Hamilton’s status as a dominant force in Formula 1.
Despite their troubled history, Alonso openly acknowledges that he still holds “respect” for the seven-time champion. In fact, he eagerly anticipates the ongoing battles between them on the track, relishing the competitive spirit that continues to fuel their rivalry.
“I have a lot of respect for him. I think at the end of the day, we met in our careers [on] a few occasions,” said Alonso when speaking to RacingNews365.com.
“This year we fight closer together and with similar cars, especially at this part of the year. In Australia, we saw we were within two seconds the whole race and and it was just a close fight.”
Throughout Fernando Alonso’s career, one recurring source of frustration has been his team transitions, often resulting in underwhelming performances on the racetrack. One such move was his return to McLaren during their ill-fated partnership with Honda in 2015, which proved to be a disastrous chapter for Alonso. On the other hand, he came tantalizingly close to securing championship victories during his tenure with Ferrari from 2010 to 2014.
In light of these circumstances, Alonso has voiced his belief that Lewis Hamilton has been fortunate in his career moves, allowing him to experience remarkable success and benefit from commanding cars. While Alonso acknowledges Hamilton’s accomplishments, he attributes a certain degree of luck to his rival’s achievements, emphasizing the significance of being in the right place at the right time.
“I still think that he is one of the best drivers in the sport, and at the same time he had the luck to have a very dominant car for many years,” he said.
“So when you have a dominant car for many years, Michael [Schumacher] won seven [titles], Hamilton won seven, Max [Verstappen] will win three – let’s say this year – and how many more we don’t know. I won two and in F1 you always need the best car to win the championship.
“If Hamilton had any problem during those years in Mercedes, [Valtteri] Bottas would be five-times World Champion.”
