Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton might have a long history with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso but that didn’t stop the Spanish driver snubbing the Brit in a recent interview.
Speaking to Bang & Olfusen, Alonso was asked about his toughest opponent around an F1 circuit, spurning Hamilton in favour of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher.
Alonso and Schumacher went wheel to wheel when the Spaniard won both of his Formula 1 Drivers’ Championships.
Alonso took the 2005 trophy with Schumacher in third place, while the 2006 was a lot closer, as the Spaniard beat the German by just 13 points.
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“It is difficult to pick one, because I think all of them were great rivals and very talented drivers as well,,” Alonso said.
“But because when I got into the sport, Michael Schumacher was dominating races and everything, that fight with him is still the one that I will always pick. Fighting with Michael was very special,” he added.
Hamilton might be a little irked by Alonso’s decision given that the British driver named the Spaniard as his toughest opponent during an interview back in July 2022.
“I remember the task of being alongside Fernando when I was 22,” Hamilton said.
“I was so young mentally and of course, OK in terms of skill but it’s a lot of pressure to go against a great like him.
“So I would say out of pure pace I think… I always say [my toughest opponent] is Fernando and his ability,” he continued
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While Schumacher has been retired from Formula 1 for some time, Hamilton and Alonso are still battling for podium finishes, as shown during the recent Australian Grand Prix.
For most of the race, Alonso was pushing to catch Hamilton, who managed to cling onto P2 until the chequered flag.
The final result saw three world champions stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the podium, as Max Verstappen took victory, Hamilton sat in P2 and Alonso completed the podium in third place.