Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel has hailed Fernando Alonso, describing his talent as “unquestionable.”
The pair were fierce Championship rivals in 2010 and 2012, with Vettel and Red Bull ultimately triumphing on both occasions.
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Alonso returned to Formula 1 this year with Alpine after a two-year hiatus, and Vettel has said he is already enjoying sharing a track with the Spaniard once again.
“I like racing against him,” Vettel told Spanish sports newspaper Marca.
“In the first race this year, when Fernando came back, we had a wheel-to-wheel fight and I was smiling in the cockpit because I’m looking forward to more this year and I think we’ve had a few already. I think I always enjoyed fighting with Fernando.”
Vettel also revealed that he was impressed by Alonso’s talent even before he made it to F1 – and he was especially impressed when he accomplished the seemingly impossible task of beating Michael Schumacher.
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“During the race at the Hungaroring in 2003 I was sitting in front of the TV and I remember watching him. I think his talent is unquestionable, his skills on the track are some of the greatest the sport has ever seen.
“Alonso did something I thought was impossible to do, namely beat Schumacher. When I was growing up Michael was the best, the number one, and it seemed impossible to beat him. Fernando started beating him, so I think it was a great achievement.
“And of course, he’s had a long career and in many different cars, so I consider it a pleasure to race alongside him and compete against him on the track,” the German added.
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