By Humberto Viera
Jan 31, 2024, 3:03 PM EST
In his documentary “Fernando. Revealed” broadcast by DAZN, driver Fernando Alonso spoke openly about his relationship with seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, especially after the controversial 2007 season.
The year 2007 saw an intense rivalry between McLaren teammates Alonso and Hamilton, with the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring standing out as one of the most notable moments of that showdown.
Alonso commented on the current state of his relationship with Hamilton: “Now there is another type of rivalry, I don’t think we will be friends in the future or that we will ever be friends… I think we don’t share many things. But it is true that in 2007, the rivalry reached a higher level.”
During the qualifying session, the dispute between the two McLaren drivers intensified. At a key moment, while Alonso was in the pits to change tires, the team held him in place for about 20 seconds, but it took the Spaniard about ten seconds longer to get out. Hamilton, waiting behind Alonso, failed to reach the finish line in time for another fastest lap. Alonso, by just two seconds, took pole position, setting a time of 1:19.674.
Alonso reflected on that period: “We were in the same team, the same garage, we traveled together many times, we were in meetings… and we began to notice that there was friction and tension. We were playing for the World Championship and each race was an intense fight on Sundays. You arrive at the team meeting and see their telemetry, their on-board cameras in the car, and you notice that each one was focused on their own benefit. There were many disagreements that affected the harmony of that year. We were young, immature, I was the first, and we had many disagreements,” Alonso admitted.
Regarding the current relationship with Hamilton, Alonso revealed that there are still frictions: “We had more over time. In 2013, in Canada, we were playing cat and mouse; in Abu Dhabi 2023 too. In Bahrain, a highlight of the year, because I had arrived at Aston Martin, I had to overtake Hamilton in the fight for the podium. Every time we get ahead of each other, there is a mixture of satisfaction and pain, and I think that will always be present in us.”
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