Fernando Alonso’s Mistakes Called Out as Lewis Hamilton Edges Him in Crucial Battle Despite Less Motivation

The debate about which driver is better than the other is not an easy one to win in Formula 1. This mainly comes down to the complex nature of the sport, the ever-changing landscape and the fact that a driver’s performance is always relative to the machinery he’s been strapped into. A driver like Max Verstappen was just a podium contender with a few wins here and there just a few years ago. Similarly, Lewis Hamilton, who’s been languishing in the upper echelons of the midfield garnered 6 titles with Mercedes in the meanwhile.

Be that as it may, the underlying quality that a driver has is always visible. But quality and talent can only get you so far. The undying will to win is what separates the good drivers from the great ones. Fernando Alonso is the perfect example of this hypothesis. And there is a pretty good reason behind it, too.

Why Fernando Alonso outclasses Lewis Hamilton

Going by pure statistics, it could never be argued that Hamilton, with his seven world championships, is the better driver between the two. However, according to the ex-Benetton team manager Joan Villadelprat, while Alonso is beaten squarely by Hamilton in terms of career choices, the Spaniard has the edge over the Brit in one department.

He told El Confidencial, “One has won seven, and the other two, and Fernando knows that he could have won more, who has the potential to be ahead of Hamilton. Except that Fernando’s choices were not correct and Hamilton was right. But the desire that Fernando has… The best of all is that now people recognize him, Formula 1, other drivers, they recognize that he is a phenomenon.”

“If Fernando had not returned, his story would have been forgotten with a title or two. But being in Formula 1, at his age, when he has a good car, take what he is taking, how he is physically, enormous, mentally he is brutal. Fernando Alonso is winning Formula 1 by far. Not only because of the results, it is that he does not fail either.” [translated via Google Translate]

Read More: Mercedes’ Returnee James Allison Warns Lewis Hamilton & George Russell of the Steep Slope Ahead While Giving Shrewd Verdict on W-14

There’s no love lost between the duo, either. And this time it is Alonso who is taking the shots.

Alonso calls Hamilton’s lie out

Hamilton finds himself in a tricky situation at the moment. While he’s been in dominating cars before, he’s the one being dominated now. Now, Hamilton feels that Mercedes‘ best isn’t even at the level of what Red Bull are doing now.

He was quoted by The Mirror as saying, “When we were fast, we were not that fast. It is the fastest car I have seen, especially compared to the rest.” But Alonso was quick to shoot Hamilton down with a sly dig towards the 38-year-old.

42-year-old Alonso was quoted as saying, “Last week I finished 20 seconds behind Checo [Perez] and Max [Verstappen]. Hamilton and [Nico] Rosberg were a minute ahead in 2014 and 2015 – he has a short memory… he’s getting old!”

Watch This Story: How the 2023 Australian GP Chaos Unfolded in Melbourne

In the eternal Lewis Hamilton v. Fernando Alonso debate, where do you stand?