Lewis Hamilton has named Fernando Alonso as his biggest rival, despite the Spaniard being unable to match the lead pace in Australia.
The McLaren driver compared their on-track relationship to Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost – two of the most fiercest rivals.
Whilst the Ferrari F150º may not be able to match the McLaren MP4-26 just yet, Hamilton made the assessment on their past, in which the two of them battled for position during the 2007 season when they both drove for McLaren.
“I will always think that my nemesis and my closest rival will always be Fernando,” he told The Guardian newspaper.
“Just because of my history, when I started out. I see him as my Prost, if we were Prost and Senna. If you were to say ‘choose a driver’ [I were like] I would clearly choose Ayrton. And maybe I would put him [Alonso] as Prost.”
He continued making comparisons with past drivers, comparing last weeks race winner, Sebastian Vettel, to Nigel Mansell.
“I don’t think [Vettel is my biggest rival]. If he continues to have a car like he does now, then maybe, but I think when we get equal pace then we will see some serious racing.
“Maybe he is the new Mansell? Not that I would rate him like I do Mansell.”
Finally, the 2008-world champion confirmed his plans for the week ahead, deciding to fly back to the UK to watch his brother, Nicolas, make his race debut in the Renault Clio Cup before flying out to Malaysia for round two of the 2011 F1 championship.
“I can’t miss my brother’s first race,” he said. “I’ll just head back to see his qualifying and race and then pop back out. It’s cool. Me and my brother are close. I mean, everyone has their situations in life, but it has been tough for him. I can understand what he has been through because I am the closest person to him, but even I cannot comprehend what it must have been like to have the difficulties he has had.
“Now he gets to have the opportunity to live the dream himself. Me and my dad will be there.”
