Is Fernando Alonso the GOAT of racing? After joining Formula 1 in 2001, establishing himself as a force to reckon with almost immediately, fighting against Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton for championships—and winning two in the process—he left F1 to pursue his passion for racing and learning other motorsports at the end of 2018. But since his return in 2021 after making waves outside F1, it’s almost as if we’re witnessing a new version of the same fighter, hungry for more.

While he could be the GOAT of racing, he’s not quite achieved as much as he would’ve wanted in F1, especially compared to his old (and present) rival, Lewis Hamilton. Their rivalry started in 2007 when the Brit joined McLaren to partner the Spaniard. That first season saw them push each other to their limits (and sometimes over, case in point, the Hungarian GP qualifying). Although they both finished the championship on equal points—losing out to Kimi Raikkonen by just one point—it was the start of almost a lifelong tension-filled relationship.

Is Fernando Alonso envious of Lewis Hamilton?

In an episode of the Formula For Success Podcast, Eddie Jordan and Red Bull legend David Coulthard discussed Hamilton’s relationship with other drivers. Jordan said, “In any interview, Lewis will always give credit to the other drivers around him. You never hear him fall out with Russell or any of the other guys, even if there is conflict. I saw that recently. He’d had trouble with Alonso, but that seems to have mended its ways.” 

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While the two seem on good terms now, Coulthard suggested that the nastiness never emanated from Hamilton. He said, “I think it’s coming more from Fernando than from Lewis. Fernando is tenacious. It’s almost like he’s angry he hasn’t had more world championships. He certainly deserves more than two.” Considering Hamilton has seven championships and Alonso has only two, that seems to have played on the Spaniard’s mind throughout his career. After he made his return to F1 and joined Aston Martin this season, he realized he had the machinery to go up against Hamilton and revive that rivalry.

16 Years After Forcing Fernando Alonso Out, Lewis Hamilton Reflects on George Russell’s Challenge With the Same Lens

Although Aston had the upper hand on Mercedes at the beginning of the season, Hamilton & Co. have the advantage now. That hasn’t stopped Alonso from doing everything he possibly can to challenge Hamilton whenever the opportunity presents itself, leading to tensions now and then. Even with the reignited rivalry, it’s no secret that Alonso has been delivering the highest of performances whenever his team needed it, whether it be at McLaren, Alpine, or Aston Martin. He revealed how he’s kept doing that time and again.

Fernando Alonso reveals the key to “over-delivering”

It’s become an accepted fact that Alonso is one of the best drivers to have raced in F1. When he’s given the car to perform, there’s no doubt that he won’t make the most of the opportunities. Over the years, he’s built himself a commendable racing repertoire, all of which have contributed to his success in motorsport. Because of this, though, he has eyes on him almost all the time, expecting the most out of him. 

In an interview with High-Performance on their YouTube channel, the Spaniard was asked how he handles the pressure of expectations and delivers, regardless. Alonso replied, “When I have this pressure or feel that I have to deliver high expectations, I try to calm myself. I normally have a lot of self-confidence. I think that’s very important to have confidence on what you’re doing, on what you’re capable of. That releases a little bit of pressure, and you are able to overdeliver if you have that confidence in yourself.”

Watch This Story: Does Fernando Alonso Believe He Can Be a 3-time World Champion?

Do you think Fernando Alonso deserves another championship? Could he win it with Aston Martin?