Lewis Hamilton has been one of Fernando Alonso’s most intense rivals. Alonso is the oldest driver in the competition, but his performance is unparalleled compared to the many newcomers. The Spaniard’s endurance is often praised, and he has driven for several different teams. He was also Hamilton’s first teammate at McLaren, but their relationship was fraught with conflict as they both fought for dominance. This ongoing battle between the two drivers revealed Alonso’s mindset when competing against the Briton.
During the 2007 season, McLaren had the strongest driver pairing on the grid. Reigning champion Fernando Alonso had left Enstone to join McLaren, while Lewis Hamilton was promoted directly from GP2, bringing a diverse range of experiences to the team. However, this diversity ultimately caused problems, as Alonso and Hamilton found themselves in multiple disputes.
As a result, these conflicts hindered their chances of winning the championship, and they lost out in the final race. This frustration created a rivalry between the two former world champions. Eddie Jordan, the former team owner, has witnessed many driver rivalries and is well-versed in the ongoing tension between drivers.
The 76-year-old stated that Alonso, the former double champion, believes he is superior to Hamilton. However, he acknowledged that the two drivers are in different leagues, with Hamilton having the upper hand.
At 43 years old, Alonso started the season with several top-six finishes in the early rounds. However, his team, Aston Martin, struggled to maintain their position and found it difficult to score points by the midpoint of the season. Despite this, Alonso denied being frustrated by the lack of progress.
The former world champion explained that, apart from the winner, every driver is dissatisfied with their position on the grid. He reiterated that while Aston Martin is not currently where they want to be, this is a common challenge for teams in the championship.
Despite the setbacks, Alonso remains optimistic about the team’s progress. He hopes that the last 10 races of the season will be much better than the previous ones.
Photo from Fernando Alonso Instagram
