Lewis Hamilton has reignited his rivalry with former teammate Fernando Alonso by making a witty remark about Alonso’s podium record.
The two legendary Formula 1 drivers, Hamilton and Alonso, shared a tumultuous season as McLaren teammates in 2007. Their competitive relationship, marked by frequent clashes, has continued over the years despite developing a mutual respect. During the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix, Alonso lashed out at Hamilton after a collision, calling him an ‘idiot’ and criticizing his driving skills.
Months later, Alonso further fueled their rivalry by suggesting that Hamilton’s World Championships were of ‘less value’ due to the dominance of his team. In response, Hamilton cheekily posted a 2007 podium photo of himself with a frustrated Alonso, highlighting their ongoing battle. Recently, Hamilton took another dig at Alonso during an appearance on F1’s official YouTube channel.
In a 13-minute game segment, F1 drivers were shown doctored images and asked to identify the errors. One image featured Alonso with a trophy on the podium at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. When prompted to find what was wrong with the picture, Hamilton quipped, ‘Just him standing on the podium.’ This comment pointed to Alonso’s relatively sparse podium appearances in recent years.
Alonso has not won a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. From 2015 to 2018, he did not finish on the podium for four consecutive seasons, leading to a two-year break from F1. Since his return in 2021, Alonso has made it to the podium nine times—once with Alpine and eight times with Aston Martin. Meanwhile, Hamilton had an exceptional run of winning at least one race every season from his debut until 2022. Although he had a winless 2022 and 2023, he ended a 945-day winless streak at Silverstone and followed it up with a victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in 2025 further intertwines their careers, with Alonso having spent five seasons with Ferrari earlier in his career and securing 11 wins. The rivalry between these two F1 titans remains a captivating storyline for fans and adds another layer to their storied careers.
The fierce rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso has provided Formula 1 fans with countless memorable moments. With their careers continuing to intersect, the competitive spirit between them shows no signs of fading.
