P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“He always had seasons where he had a few races where he disappeared. He wasn’t there anymore, and suddenly the light turned on again, and he was a killer again. Whereas Alonso is always there.”
In a recent ranking, 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve placed Fernando Alonso above Lewis Hamilton due to Hamilton’s perceived complacency and inconsistent performances during dominant seasons.
Despite Alonso having fewer titles, Hamilton holds the record for F1’s most successful driver with seven world championships and over 100 race wins.
Alonso’s career has been marked by narrow misses, with his last F1 victory in 2013, leading to a general consensus that his achievements do not match his talent.
Villeneuve critiqued Hamilton for not being ruthless enough in dominant cars and suggested some championships could have been won by his teammates, like Valtteri Bottas.
Alonso has faced criticism for his choice in teams, notably leaving Ferrari for McLaren-Honda, while Hamilton’s move to Mercedes in 2013 was a successful gamble, ultimately giving him an edge in his career trajectory.
Villeneuve emphasized that both drivers have their strengths and weaknesses in terms of team decisions and driving capabilities, but acknowledged Hamilton’s track record and Alonso’s consistent presence on the racing scene.
