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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 30: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari walks through the paddock during previews ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 30, 2014 in Austin, United States. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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AUSTIN, TX – OCTOBER 30: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari walks through the paddock during previews ahead of the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 30, 2014 in Austin, United States. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
It is a known fact that Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso shared a less than pleasant time as teammates at McLaren. The two world champions would often come together on the track, ignore team orders, and pull off dirty tactics against each other as the entire McLaren garage would helplessly watch it all unfold in utter disbelief. So, in one word, one can say that the championship battle between the two was ‘disastrous’.
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And, at one point, McLaren were no longer in control of the situation as well, as they had to wait for the season to end to make any kind of tweaks to the line-up.
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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 on November 22, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
However, here’s something interesting! Despite showcasing an insane level of animosity against each other in 2007, Hamilton and Alonso somehow prevented the situation from escalating any further.
Back in 2014, Hamilton ended his dry spell by winning what was only his second world championship trophy in Abu Dhabi.
And following the amazing feat, the Briton had an unusual guest visit him at his own hospitality in the paddock.
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Fernando Alonso congratulates Lewis Hamilton
Alonso had a rather busy night at the Yas Marina Circuit following the season-ending race. The Spaniard called for a helmet swap with Daniel Ricciardo; the duo made the swap right in the middle of the paddock, as spectators lauded the moment while the media caught the moment on their camera.
Soon after, Alonso walked to the Mercedes hospitality where he first congratulated Toto Wolff. But, after reaching the first storey of the building, Alonso found his former rival, Hamilton. Unsurprisingly, the latter looked absolutely shocked to see Alonso in the building.
“Cheers dude. Thank you, man! Thanks for coming over,” Hamilton can be heard saying. After a couple of hugs, Alonso then congratulated the world champion’s father, Anthony Hamilton, and brother, Nicholas Hamilton, as well before walking around the room congratulating other Mercedes crew.
Overall, the Hamilton-Alonso rivalry will forever be hailed as one of the greatest rivalries in F1. So, as the duo inch towards the phase of retirement, will we get to see them battle for the championship one last time before they call it quits? Or, is it too late? Well, only time will tell.
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