Lewis Hamilton named Fernando Alonso as the toughest opponent ahead of the likes of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel
As Lewis Hamilton prepares for his 300th Grand Prix start, he selected Fernando Alonso as his toughest Formula 1 opponent. Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut back in 2007, his McLaren team-mate for that season none other than Alonso, who had won the 2005 and 2006 Drivers’ Championships with Renault.
At the 2022 French Grand Prix, Hamilton will join Alonso in the 300 club of Grand Prix starts. Speaking ahead of the first practice session, Hamilton picked ‘Alonso’ as the strongest opponent he has ever faced. “I think it’s difficult to say who has necessarily been the strongest competitor. Because every time you’re with someone, you’re in a different place in your life. I would say on pure pace, Fernando [is the toughest]. We had some good battles”, said the 7-time World Champion.
The love and respect is mutual between the two legends of the sport. Alonso was keen to praise Hamilton on the eve of 300 Grand Prix, saying no one would have thought Hamilton, when he started out, could become a seven-time World Champion as he has done.
Lewis Hamilton’s statement has received mixed reactions from the fans on social media. While it didn’t go down too well with Ferrari fans and loyalists of Michael Schumacher, other took a stance for the Brit. Let us take a look at a few of the most interesting reactions.
“Michael was unbeatable no wonder he doesn’t call him opponent. Furthermore, HAM lost against Button… pretty average driver HAM. Never won a single championship when he wasn’t sitting in the fastest car of a season”, wrote a fan, who clearly doesn’t agree with Hamilton.
“This absolutely true. Lewis has raced against Alonso with him in different machinery(McLaren, Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine)”, tweeted a fan, taking a stand for Hamilton.
“Yeah. Perhaps you forgot Roseberg, Max, Russell, Kimi, MSCs, Perez, Albon, Gasly, shall I keep going? all of which they have beaten you in a similar or lesser cars. You are so full of yourself lh”, wrote another fan, who evidently didn’t take the statement too kindly.
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