Hamilton is the sixth most grand prix-winning driver in F1 history and is in a position to overtake Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button for fourth place at the end of the 2022 season.
Ahead of his historic race at Paul Ricard on Sunday, Hamilton has singled out current Alpine driver Alonso as his toughest rival, having shared a team with him in 2007 in his first year in the top flight.
Alonso arrived at McLaren F1 after being two-time champion with Renault , and Hamilton made his debut. While the spygate scandal saw McLaren lose all its points in the constructors’ championship, Hamilton tied Alonso for the drivers’ championship behind Kimi Raikkonen with 109 points, four wins and eight podiums each.
Lewis Hamilton spoke like this this Thursday in France about Alonso: “I think it is difficult to say who has been the strongest competitor because every time you are fighting with someone, you are in a different moment of your life.”
“I remember the challenge of being at Fernando’s side when he was 22 years old. He was very young mentally and, of course, he had a good level, but it’s a lot of pressure to face a great like Fernando.”
“I would say that in terms of pure pace, Fernando has been the toughest. We had some good battles.”
“I wish we could have more. I hope he keeps running, so hopefully we’ll have more in the future.”
El genial duelo Alonso vs Hamilton en el GP de Hungría 2022 de F1
In 2007, the ever-increasing tension within the team – at that Hungarian GP in which Alonso blocked Hamilton in the pits after a highly questionable team decision – and the position of boss Ron Dennis , who favored Hamilton, meant that both Alonso and McLaren mutually broke their contract for 2008.
Alonso returned to Renault for two years before joining Ferrari in 2010, but returned to McLaren in 2015 following Hamilton’s move to Mercedes two years earlier.
With Alonso gone, Hamilton quickly took the measure of his replacement, Heikki Kovalainen, en route to a first title in 2008, before teaming up with Jenson Button at McLaren, until his move to Mercedes in 2013 led to pairings with Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and now George Russell.
Despite their tensions in 2007, Alonso acknowledged that “it has always been a pleasure” to face Hamilton.
The Spaniard, who will overtake Kimi Raikkonen as the oldest driver in F1 history before the end of this term, commented: “I don’t think much has changed, to be honest.”
“He already had the talent in 2007, he still has the talent now, added to the experience.”
“He’s been a tremendous driver, a legend of our sport, so it’s always been a pleasure to spend all this time with him.”
“And back then probably no one thought that someone would be able to win seven titles like Michael Schumacher. The journey has been incredible.”
“The team that they all built at Mercedes over these years was exceptional. Congratulations on the 300.”
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