Lewis Hamilton had the honor of being the first teammate in Formula 1 to drive alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. While the two drivers were tied on points in 2007, there was a certain tension between them.
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In the run-up to the Grand Prix of Great Britain, the former Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Vice President Norbert Haug shared his experiences in dealing with the two drivers at the time.
Haug explains how he struggled to explain the tension between Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso
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Despite his rookie season, Hamilton exceeded all expectations in 2007. With four race wins and eight podium places, the Briton was only one point behind Kimi Räikkönen. While Hamilton impressed this season, Alonso was no less. In fact, the Spaniard ended the season tied with his British teammate with an identical record.
Their relationship as teammates wasn’t always the best, however. Tensions between them increased at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year, with neither driver allowing the other to do flying laps during qualifying.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 22: Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Fernando Alonso from Spain and McLaren F1 speak in the drivers press conference during previews ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 22nd, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason / Getty Images)
Haug appeared on the Beyond the Grid podcast, admitting the situation with her drivers felt like a Hollywood movie script. He said, “Sometimes Ron [Dennis, McLaren boss] did the press conferences and sometimes I did … it was my turn in Hungary.
“I looked like an idiot, of course – how should I explain something like that? Certainly not our best qualifying, but very remarkable. Again, if you write this down, it’s a Hollywood movie; forget it, nobody will believe you! “
DIVE DEEPER
Haug: We could have achieved more
The German admitted that in 2007 McLaren had the potential to achieve more, but the tension between their two drivers prevented that.
“We could certainly have achieved more. I mean, we could have done without the Hungarian saga in qualifying without any problems.
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“That was one of the reasons. I mean, we had several reasons why they missed the championship with both drivers and we were penalized because both drivers missed [by] a period at the end. “
FILE PHOTO: Formula One – F1 – 2008 Great Britain Grand Prix – Silverstone – July 6, 2008 McLaren Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the Great Britain Grand Prix with his pit crew Action Images via Reuters / Crispin Thruston / File Photo
While their time at McLaren is in the past, Hamilton and Alonso are at different stages of their careers. However, it is to be hoped that the two drivers will be able to fight for the title again in the future.
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