Lewis Hamilton has gone up against some of the top drivers of his era during his 19 years in Formula 1, and recently, he singled out one opponent who left a lasting impression.
A big part of Hamilton’s legacy is shaped by the quality of competition he’s faced – and often beaten – over nearly two decades at the sharp end of the grid.
On his way to seven world titles, he’s faced down legends like Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher, not to mention Max Verstappen. Then there was Nico Rosberg, whose rivalry with Hamilton at Mercedes remains one of the sport’s most intense chapters.
While many point to Verstappen as his greatest challenger – especially since Verstappen was the first non-teammate to genuinely threaten Hamilton’s title reign – Hamilton didn’t choose him when asked about his toughest competitor.
Hamilton opted for someone else entirely: “It is very hard because I have raced against so many people,” he said. “I think ultimately it comes down to natural talent and ability. And I would say probably Fernando Alonso.”
Lewis Hamilton labels F1 icon as most talented teammate in his career
Alonso was on top form during their time together at McLaren in 2007 but Hamilton immediately took it upon himself to set high standards for himself despite coming into F1 as a rookie that year.
The pair finished level on points that season behind Kimi Raikkonen but Alonso departed McLaren after just one year at the team after clashing with team principal Ron Dennis numerous times throughout their partnership.
Lewis Hamilton reveals the best Formula 1 driver he’s ever raced
During a quick-fire interview with Brazilian internet personality Matheus Gonze, Hamilton was asked to name the best driver he’s ever raced against. After taking a moment to think, he replied: “That’s difficult, I’m going to say Sebastian [Vettel].”
Their rivalry was at its peak in the late 2010s, with Vettel often being the main challenger to Mercedes following Rosberg’s retirement in 2016.
One of their most memorable clashes came at the 2017 Azerbaijan GP. It was a fiery moment in their rivalry, which later softened into mutual respect and friendship.
Vettel has been supportive of Hamilton during his time at Ferrari, which has included one of the most challenging periods of Hamilton’s career. The British driver has said he’ll be “forever grateful” for the support Vettel has given him over the past year.
Lewis Hamilton says Senna-inspired Silverstone 2008 win is his favourite race
With more than 100 career wins under his belt, it’s easy to understand why not every race victory would stand out equally for Lewis Hamilton.
The topic came up during an interview when he was asked which race stands out most from his time in F1. Without much hesitation, Hamilton pointed to Silverstone 2008: “The one I remember the most is probably Silverstone 2008. It was in the wet, and it was the hardest race.”
READ MORE: Fred Vasseur’s call reportedly sparked Ferrari chairman’s outburst at Hamilton
Told about Ayrton Senna’s reputation for excelling in wet conditions – and reminded that Senna was an early inspiration – Hamilton said it felt fitting: “Yeah,” “it was like a Senna race.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
