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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Mclaren Mercedes team mates Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Fernando Alonso of Spain appear at the drivers press conference during previews prior to the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – OCTOBER 18: (L-R) Mclaren Mercedes team mates Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Fernando Alonso of Spain appear at the drivers press conference during previews prior to the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Interlagos in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
A wave of animosity struck the McLaren F1 team back in 2007 when Lewis Hamilton lined up alongside 2-time world champion, Fernando Alonso. The initial circumstances suggested that the duo were spurring an impeccable teammate rivalry.
However, the rivalry soon turned bitter, and McLaren almost had no choice but to watch the feud as a mere spectator. And since then, there have been questions about whom to blame. Was it Alonso or the rookie, Hamilton? Well, according to the Spaniard, it is neither.
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What did Fernando Alonso say?
In an interview with Rachel Brookes of Sky Sports F1, the Alpine driver opined that there were hardly any problems between himself and his former rival. Instead, he blamed McLaren’s mismanagement of its drivers that eventually led to an explosive duel.
“Looking back, and I think Lewis would say the same, we had no problems between us. We had a very tough but fair competition,” he said. “Honestly, I think, and probably he agrees, the team didn’t handle the situation. I don’t want to blame Ron (Dennis), I don’t want to blame any particular name, but as a team and management we were too young, we were too ambitious and nobody guided us in a way.”
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JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN – JANUARY 16: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and McLaren Mercedes in action during a test at the Circuito de Jerez on January 16, 2008, in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The 2007 season was an absolute disaster for McLaren, despite the fact that they had their sights on the driver’s title from the start of the season until the very end. However, as the spotlight fell onto the in-team rivalry, the drivers lost their focuses on the championship.
Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen used the opportunity to steal the championship from the McLaren drivers and secure his first and only title in F1.
Lewis Hamilton arrived like a tsunami, according to Alonso
The former Renault world champion acknowledged that Hamilton caught him off-guard at McLaren, which led to the latter’s domination despite being a rookie.
“Lewis came into Formula 1 like a tsunami. With all his talent, all his abilities and results immediately,” Alonso said.
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Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP (L) and Fernando Alonso of Spain and McLaren F1 (R) talk in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Hamilton is still intensely competing for the title after over a decade and isn’t showing any signs of slowing despite the fact that he is one of the oldest drivers on the grid at the moment.
Also, his former McLaren rival, too, is a part of the grid this season and will remain so until the end of 2022. Hence, can Hamilton and Alonso produce yet another battle for the championship before bidding adieu to their campaign in Formula 1?
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