Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Fernando Alonso from Spain and McLaren F1 speak on the grid prior to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on November 25, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Fernando Alonso has blamed McLaren for how the relationship between him and Lewis Hamilton on the team unraveled in 2007.
Alonso joined the team after winning the last two world championships with Renault, along with a rookie Hamilton who stood on the podium in each of his first nine races at McLaren in what the Spaniard’s first thought became the de facto number Going McLaren, one driver disagreed.
The two fought on the track and their rivalry seemed to come to a head when Alonso stayed in his pits during qualifying in Hungary, preventing the young Briton from doing another flying lap – much to the chagrin of his team.
The pair also dueled on the Indianapolis track, with Alonso making a gesture to his team by pulling close to the pit wall as he couldn’t get past Hamilton to lead the race.
The breakdown of Alonso and Hamilton’s relationship is well documented, but they have long since reconciled and now get on well. Nevertheless, the Spaniard does not show this hostility to the seven-time world champion, but to the team.
“2007 was a very important season for me,” the two-time world champion told Sky Sports.
“Lewis got into Formula 1 like a tsunami with all his talents and skills and results, immediate results – that was intense and a challenge for everyone.
“Looking back, I think Lewis will think the same way, we have no problems between us, we had very tough competition, but fair. To be honest, I think, and neither do he, the team didn’t master the situation.
“I don’t want to blame Ron [Dennis, then team principal]”I don’t want to blame a specific name, but as a team and as management we were too young, too ambitious, and nobody guided us.”
Alonso left the team to return to familiar surroundings at Renault after just one season at McLaren and to end a turbulent relationship prematurely.
Over the years, the two greats fought exciting duels on the track, which were particularly exciting to see at the last race on the Hungaroring.
Alonso showed an exceptional defensive effort to hold back Hamilton, who was up to three seconds per lap faster than the Alpine – to help teammate Esteban Ocon on his way to victory.
Hamilton said afterwards that Alonso gave him “hell” on the track but respected the “big race” between the two.
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