F1's unexpected gift in 2023: Alonso vs Hamilton
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On the surface, the 2023 Formula One season has been dominated by Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. However, there are a host of compelling stories behind this dominance. From the form of Sergio Pérez and Daniel Ricciardo's return to the state of affairs at Ferrari, not forgetting McLaren's apparent awakening. However, one detail that seems to have gone unnoticed is the new instalment in the almost two-decade rivalry between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
2007
This particular season is remembered more for McLaren's missteps than for the eventual champion, Kimi Raikkonen. To this day, the most talked about aspect is the toxic rivalry that emerged between then team-mates Alonso and Hamilton. When it comes to assigning responsibility, both the Spaniard and the Briton were spared. Both were overwhelmed by the pressure, which resulted from the poor handling of both by Ron Dennis, McLaren's team boss at the time. Alonso and Hamilton ended up bringing out the best and the worst in each other, with the consequences sometimes extending beyond the confines of the track.
2010 to 2013
The years in which Alonso and Hamilton showed their brilliance in cars inferior to the dominant Red Bulls of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. While the German was setting the records, Alonso and Hamilton delighted the world through constant displays of driving mastery, stretching the world titles to the season's final stages on two occasions.
2021 and 2022
Alonso and Hamilton met sporadically on track between the two years, resulting in memorable battles and events, such as when the Spaniard cost the Briton victory at the Hungaroring in 2021. In Belgium last year, Alonso and Hamilton had an incident that left the Briton out and ruined the Spaniard's race.
2023
The alteration of the top category deprived us of enjoying the on-track battles between these two top exponents of motorsport until this year. Aston Martin, the Spaniard's new F1 stronghold, emerged from the stables with a voracious hunger for podiums. While Mercedes took a while to wake up, they have rebounded since Spain, with Hamilton taking pole at the Hungaroring.
Spa-Francorchamps left us with just one point separating the two champions. And with this year's title fight more settled than that of 2008, at least according to Felipe Massa, taking P2 in the championship has become Alonso and Hamilton's main objective.
A battle between now and November, which could play a role in Perez's future at Red Bull, would mean a lot in terms of motivation and validation, not only for Alonso and Hamilton but also for everyone at Silverstone and Brackley, Aston Martin and Mercedes factories respectively, who have put a mountain of effort into the cars that have brought both drivers to fight at this stage.
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F1 circus action resumes today at the old-school Dutch circuit of Zandvoort. It will be a weekend of mixed conditions, ensuring sessions full of excitement, adrenaline and maybe even a bit of drama. Click here for the full weekend programme schedule.