Fernando Alonso’s relationship with former McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton is one of the most confusing things in Formula 1, with the Spaniard often managing to praise yet criticise the seven-time World Champion.
It was only recently during the sport’s unplanned Spring break that Alonso revealed how much he’d love to be team-mates with Hamilton again, given how much things have changed since their unsuccessful season together in 2007.
Alonso previously blamed poor management for his and Hamilton’s failed relationship at McLaren, with the pair having clashed almost every season ever since.
Alonso is, of course, a two-time World Champion, with the 41-year-old having claimed his titles in 2005 and 2006 whilst racing for Renault.
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Six of Hamilton’s seven titles came between 2014-2020 whilst at Mercedes, with 2016 having been the only season in that seven-year spell where he was beaten to the crown.
Due to his immense success since having joined the Silver Arrows, Hamilton does possess several records in F1, with the 38-year-old being the record-holder for most wins and pole positions, whilst he jointly holds the record for most titles with Michael Schumacher.
Whilst Alonso does see Hamilton as “one of the best in history”, the Spaniard also thinks the British driver “has been lucky” to have raced for a team who dominated for so many years, with Mercedes having been untouchable until the new aerodynamic regulations were introduced.
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“I have a lot of respect for him,” Alonso told Marca. “After all, we have rarely coincided in our careers in the same place.
“Maybe this year we find ourselves racing together and with similar cars, in this part of the year. In Australia we were within a two-second margin the whole race and it was a very close fight (you think about it), but yes, I still think he is one of the best in history.
“But at the same time he has been lucky or has known to be in a dominant car for many years and when that happens, Schumacher won 7 titles, Lewis also 7, Verstappen is on his way to third, I won two. To be champion you need the best car.”