Fernando Alonso Wants To End His Career Alongside Lewis Hamilton After Rocky Past
It wasn't long ago when Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were the epitome of a "strained" partnership. When the two Formula 1 drivers shared the McLaren garage in 2007, the atmosphere was tense. Clashes between the pair were a common sight, with their frustrations spilling over onto the track.
The infamous 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying incident, where Hamilton refused to let Alonso pass, led to the Spaniard's pit stop retaliation, ultimately preventing Hamilton from setting a fast lap. The tension became so unbearable that Alonso ended his three-year contract with McLaren prematurely, citing an "unsuitable collaboration" with the team.
Fast forward 16 years, and the rivalry between Alonso and Hamilton appears to have mellowed. While occasional sparks of competition still emerge, the animosity that once clouded their relationship seems to have dissipated. Alonso, in fact, is open to the idea of reuniting with Hamilton on the track. I'd suggest they meet at Hamiton's new burger joint...
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, the Spanish driver expressed his desire for the two to end their careers together, saying:
"It would be nice to end our careers together, I would love that.
"We had a difficult season, but we respected what the other was doing on track and still do. We each consider the other to be a talented driver and one of the toughest competitors we have ever met."
Team Management to Blame, Alonso Admits
Looking back at their tumultuous year at McLaren, the team's performance was promising. While Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari ultimately secured the title, both Hamilton and Alonso trailed the Finnish driver by just one point, and Ferrari's Felipe Massa was hot on their heels. In retrospect, Alonso believes that the team's management mishandled the situation.
Reflecting on their younger selves, Alonso admits that both he and Hamilton were immature and needed guidance from the management, which they failed to receive.
"We were young. We were immature. We were many of the things we are not now, and we needed help from the management that we didn’t get. It was a team with eyes totally on one side of the garage.
"As Ron Dennis said after the penultimate race in China, 'Our race isn’t with Massa, it is with Fernando'. When your team says that, you cannot continue."