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“I have tried to be really respectful”: Lewis Hamilton explains why he dissed former teammate Fernando Alonso

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"I have tried to be really respectful": Lewis Hamilton explains why he dissed former teammate Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso mentioned that Lewis Hamilton’s World Title wins did not mean as much as his or Max Verstappen’s, and the 7-time Champion did not take it well. 

The rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso started back during the former’s debut season in F1. The two were teammates for just a year, but have taken digs at each other for a long time after.

Recently, Alonso stated that most of Hamilton’s Title wins were achieved without much competition from anyone other than his teammate. He and Verstappen on the other hand had to fend off much tougher rivals. Shortly thereafter, he posted a Tweet insisting that his quotes were taken out of context and he never meant any disrespect to Hamilton or his incredible achievements.

However, as far as Hamilton was concerned, the damage was already done. The Mercedes ace did not take these comments well. Yesterday, he posted a picture on Twitter that showed him standing on the top podium, patting Alonso’s shoulder as he stood in second place. To add salt to the wound, the 37-year-old did not give any context to the picture and just put a ‘thumbs up’ sign as a caption.

This Tweet became viral on social media and fans loved how Hamilton hit back at his rival.

Also read: I missed the single life”: Lewis Hamilton was happy to break up with Nicole Scherzinger

Lewis Hamilton has always tried and praised Fernando Alonso

Hamilton and Alonso have been rivals for quite some time even though were teammates for just one season. Despite that, they have always praised each other for being legends of F1. Hamilton, however, feels that respect is not reciprocated from Alonso’s side at times.

After the Mexican GP on Sunday, the Stevenage-born driver said he had always tried to be respectful towards his former teammate. Alonso, meanwhile, ends up making comments that he termed as ‘interesting’.

“I have tried to be really respectful over the years,” he said. “For example, when you ask me about who’s been the better driver for me I always try to give praise. But, it’s definitely interesting to see the comments that are made.”

When asked about why he used the thumbs up emoji, he replied by saying that whatever happened, didn’t matter much to him. Hence, he sent his response in the form of a single emoji.

Also read: Sergio Perez stops Mexican fans from booing Lewis Hamilton during post-race interview; F1 fans react

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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