Does one define F1 as an individual sport or a team sport? Most would end up choosing the latter. But some driver pairings make it difficult to justify it as a team sport. On the list of those pairings, somewhere among the top 3 would feature two sensational drivers that raced for McLaren in the 2000s – Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren brought in a young Briton named Lewis Hamilton to their team in 2007 to partner alongside the more experienced Spaniard, Fernando Alonso. Most times, teams refrain from publicly differentiating between their drivers as #1 and #2 – but it’s a tacit agreement that the younger one is the understudy. Lewis didn’t look at things that way – he made an outstanding entry to F1 in his very first season; Alonso didn’t take to that very kindly.

The two had a very public and intense rivalry all season, with multiple damning interviews where either driver spoke negatively against the other. McLaren, on the other hand, made the most of it. They saw their team performing well and they let the drivers fight it out amongst themselves. In the end, the title went to Kimi Raikkonen scoring 110 points, with both McLaren drivers tied for 2nd with 109 points. How dramatic!

That feud continues to boil over to this day, with the recent controversy that erupted after Alonso made comments about Hamilton’s titles and Hamilton replied with a cryptic tweet.

On the other hand, Alonso had a completely opposite relationship with Jenson Button. Alonso even called him “probably the best team-mate I’ve had.” Button is one of the few drivers to have been a teammate to both Fernando and Lewis.

Read More: Amid Recent Fernando Alonso Row, Lewis Hamilton Once Challenged His F1 Rival To “Prove He’s A Man” Off the Track

It’s hard to define F1 – but the competitiveness, for obvious reasons, does take over at some times. Alonso and Hamilton were both superb drivers and their track records show it.

Button tweets for Alonso amidst Lewis Hamilton drama

Fernando Alonso was being questioned by many, given he is the oldest driver on the tracks. But his performances continue to show why he’s still here and so many people he drove with aren’t.

Button called out all those critics after Alonso delivered the best reaction time in the Mexican GP. Alonso returned the favor with a sweet, “🤝 I think it’s time for you to come back 🙌“

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Fans have largely been in agreement about the return of the British F1 driver.

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While a return for Button might not be on the cards, Alonso has truly been defiant and has shown the true meaning of “age is just a number.” However many seasons of F1 he has left in him, it is sure they will be par excellence.