Lewis Hamilton says he’s ‘blown away’ by recent comments from Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard heaped praise on the McLaren driver this week.
The two endured a difficult season together in 2007 when the pair joined McLaren as teammates. Alonso, a two-time champion against a rookie, could only match Hamilton’s point as the season ended with both missing out on the title by a single point to Kimi Raikkonen.
That led to a fraught relationship when Alonso departed the Woking based outfit after just one season. However the pair are often seen talking in the paddock now as their friendship improves, and the latest round of compliments is certainly a sign that they respect one another’s talents.
“Hamilton did not have a super season this year, who knows whether it was due to the Pirelli tyres or the fact that with blown diffusers now driving has changed,” Alonso said of Hamilton’s season.
“On top of that, [Jenson] Button is having a great year. All of this concurred to give the impression that his season hasn’t been so good.”
Despite that, Alonso says Hamilton is the one he’ll be watching in pre-season testing next year as he’s the only one capable of winning a championship without the best car.
“But let’s consider India, when he took second place in qualifying. It’s like soccer: if Real Madrid or Barcelona are not performing particularly well on a given season, that does not mean that they’re not top league. In fact, at the next winter testing he [Hamilton] will be the only one I’ll be watching closely. The other guys can win if they’ve got the best car; he’s the one who’s able to clinch a championship with a car that’s not the best.”
After being told about the comments, Hamilton said he was ‘blown away’, whilst returning the favour.
“I’m blown away Fernando is so positive towards me despite my season,” said the 26-year-old. “It’s nice to know I’ve got support from some drivers.
“Despite the relationship we’ve had, I think our friendship and the respect we have for one another has got a lot stronger. So it’s nice to see that coming out because I’ve only ever said he is one of the best drivers, if not the best driver here.”
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