F1 News: Fernando Alonso On Lewis Hamilton - "Don't Think We'll Be Friends In The Future"
In a candid revelation during the DAZN documentary 'Fernando. Revealed', Fernando Alonso delves into the intricate dynamics of his relationship with seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, particularly highlighting the intensified rivalry during the controversial 2007 Formula 1 season at McLaren. Alonso's insights shed light on the complexities and challenges of their partnership, claiming he doesn't "think they will be friends in the future".
Key Takeaways:
- Evolving Rivalry: Alonso acknowledges a shift in the nature of his rivalry with Hamilton, suggesting that despite their past, a future friendship is unlikely. He reminisces about the heightened rivalry in 2007, attributing it to their competitive spirits and the intense environment at McLaren.
- Internal Tensions: Alonso provides a detailed account of the friction and tension within the team, stemming from the close competition and lack of harmony. He admits to both drivers seeking personal advantages, which disrupted the team's unity and development efforts.
- Leadership Critique: Critically reflecting on the team's management, Alonso points out the lack of control by team boss Ron Dennis during the 2007 season. He contrasts this with potential scenarios under different leadership, hinting at a mismanagement that exacerbated the situation.
Fernando Alonso's candid revelations in the DAZN documentary 'Fernando. Revealed' offer a profound insight into his relationship with fellow Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, especially during their tumultuous 2007 season with McLaren. Alonso reflects:
"Now there is another type of rivalry, I don't think we will be friends in the future or that we will ever have... I think we don't share many things. But it is true that in 2007 the rivalry rose to a higher level."
Alonso's narrative is not just a recount of past events but a critical examination of the dynamics within a Formula 1 team. He delves deeper into the friction that existed:
"We were in the same team, the same garage, we travelled together many times, we were in the meetings and we began to notice that there was this friction, there was tension, we were playing the World Cup and we were playing each race on Sunday.
"You arrive at the team meeting and you are seeing his telemetry, his 'on board' cameras of the car and that, for example, his car goes a little ahead and when he speaks in the meeting he complains about the rear, things like that so that the team did not take a direction or take a philosophy to develop the car that would be good for both of us, but rather each one was already looking for their own thing, to have that extra advantage, because we were very evenly matched.
"There were many things that broke the relationship harmony of that year. We were young, immature, I was the first, and we had many clashes."
Moreover, Alonso's critique of team leadership, specifically Ron Dennis, sheds light on the lack of effective management that could have mitigated the rivalry:
"We had a boss who did not know how to control the situation. This would not have happened with Flavio Briatore. Or with Lawrence Stroll. There are certain characters in F1 who are respected and others whose drivers have control of the situation.
"In that McLaren of 2007, the pilots had too much control and no one gave us serious warning."
Despite the passage of time, Alonso acknowledges that the rivalry with Hamilton has not waned, citing recent on-track encounters that reignite their competitive spirits:
"We had more over time. In 2013, in Canada we were playing cat and mouse; in Abu Dhabi 2023, too. In Bahrain, which was the happy moment of the year, because I had arrived at Aston Martin and in the fight for podium I have to pass Hamilton. Every time we overtake each other it has an extra satisfaction and pain when you are the one in front. And I think we are going to always have that with us."