Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have been arch-rivals ever since their McLaren days back in 2007. The polarization among fans between the two is so high that when anyone from the Formula 1 fraternity picks their preference between them, they make headlines. A similar case was recently seen with F1 Academy leader Marta García López naming her preference between the two in a recent interview with MARCA.
García López has made a name for herself in the first season of F1 Academy as she is just one race away from becoming champion. As things stand, the 23-year-old currently has a 48-point lead over second-placed Léna Bühler. The Spainard made headlines after she recently snubbed her compatriot for Hamilton.
Marta García López identifies more with Lewis Hamilton than Fernando Alonso
In a recent interview with marca.com, Marta García López revealed that she identifies herself more with Lewis Hamilton than Fernando Alonso. She made her remarks when asked to reveal who has been the most influential F1 driver for her.
In reply, she said, “I’m not going to lie” before adding, “When I got older, and being in the motor world, I liked him (Alonso) a lot and I like Lewis (Hamilton) a lot. Both on and off track. I feel that he (Hamilton) has influenced me to be able to achieve my goals. I feel more identified with him. He is the one I have had as a reference in recent years“.
After stating the same, the 23-year-old was then asked if she could imagine herself alongside Alonso, Hamilton, and Carlos Sainz on the grid. “Hopefully, it would be quite good. If that happens, I would have already achieved everything. We’ll see,” she replied. However, she did make it clear that she does not see a woman making it to F1 for at least another seven years.
García López gives her take on women’s racing
In the same interview with marca.com, Marta García López explained how the FIA still has a lot of work to do if F1 is to see a woman competing in the sport. She stated that while the F1 Academy has helped significantly to promote women, she believes that they are still a long way away from competing in the pinnacle of motorsports.
The F1 Academy has indeed been a huge success to support women because as many as 15 are able to showcase their potential across different circuits on the calendar. Formula One has already confirmed that the F1 Academy will also run for the 2024 season with a total of 15 teams.
