Sebastian Vettel maintained an undisputed dominance over F1 between 2010 and 2013. That era, much like Red Bull’s current one, left rivals battling just for the 2nd place. However, neither does a man like Fernando Alonso settle for the second best nor does a team like Ferrari. Back then, the two worked in tandem, only to agonizingly fail to break the Austrian team’s dominance. Despite all of Vettel’s heroics, it wasn’t him the Spaniard was worried about. It was his old teammate-rival, Lewis Hamilton, who gave him some sleepless nights.
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Alonso and Hamilton arrived at McLaren in 2007, albeit with very different reputations. Fernando came at the back of two back-to-back world championship wins while Lewis was in his rookie year. However, once the duo hit the track, there was nothing separating them. Their battles often spilled over to the outside of the track when they openly criticized each other in front of the media. Eventually, they both finished the season with equal points, missing out on the championship by just one point.
Sebastian Vettel fans angry as former Ferrari man discloses Fernando Alonso’s Lewis Hamilton fear
In a 2014 MotorSport article, journalist Mark Hughes quoted an ex-Ferrari man as saying, “In my time at Ferrari, Lewis was the only other driver Fernando [Alonso] worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a Grand Prix weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton that Fernando referenced as being a threat, solely because of what he could deliver as a driver.”
This clearly did not please the fans of Vettel, who was a force to reckon with back in Fernando’s Ferrari days. Coincidentally, the Spaniard replaced the German at Aston Martin after his retirement from F1 at the end of the 2022 season.
Take a look at some reactions to the Tweet that unearthed the confession once again.
Bro forgot Vettel Nando’s biggest nightmare
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
they gave up on being worried about Vettel because Alonso simply isn't his competition!
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Yes understandable both where fighting for scraps left by Vettel🤞🏽
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Nah, man, they couldn't even include Vettel in their strategies cause he was just that good man Which is saying something considering the grid during those years
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Some fans took a dig at Vettel fans getting offended.
Vettel fans on their way to any tweet including the word Fernando or Alonso
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
I remember Alonso being fairly vocal about this at the time. I always assumed it was either a passive-aggressive swipe at Vettel (only winning because of the car) or a way to talk himself up by talking up his ex-teammate.
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
I remember chuckling at Alonso's radio last year, at almost every race, he was asking about where Lewis was or where he finished😆
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Some fans recalled the days when Hamilton took the world of F1 by storm in just his rookie year.
I would also be terrified if a rookie was quicker than me
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Bro was really traumatized by 2007
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
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Lewis really put fear into this guy 😂
In my time at Ferrari,” says one senior ex-Scuderia man, “Lewis was the only other driver Fernando worried about. Yes, other drivers might have been in faster cars and he’d accept that. But on a GP weekend whenever you’d discuss the challenges, it was only ever Hamilton..”
Fernando and Lewis’ fans are rejoicing ever since the Aston Martin driver got a competitive car this year and the duo is battling each other just like yesteryear. The only difference is that they are a lot more respectful of each other away from the track than they were in 2007.