F1: Fernando Alonso Responds To Sebastian Vettel's 'Never Liked Me' Comment

Fernando Alonso has responded to Sebastian Vettel’s comments about the two not having a cordial relationship despite no untoward incident between the two drivers when they were racing each other in Formula 1. The German made the comments during the post-race press conference at the Hungary Grand Prix last Sunday.

The Spaniard quit F1 at the end of the 2018 season to concentrate on his dream of winning motorsport’s famed Triple Crown and explore other forms of motor racing. He won the LeMans 24-Hours on two occasions in the last 12 months while also adding the FIA World Endurance Championship title to his kitty.

Vettel, meanwhile, is currently enduring his fifth title-less season with Ferrari and they have been playing second fiddle to Mercedes and even on occasion to Red Bull in 2019. He finished the Hungarian GP in third place behind Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen when Alonso’s name popped up after the Spaniard had written a message of congratulations to the Mercedes and Red Bull drivers for their race-long battle.

The question was regarding having Alonso back in F1 and Hamilton and Verstappen both agreed that the sport should have the best drivers, while discussing if Red Bull will be an option owing to Pierre Gasly’s recent struggles. When the question was put to Vettel, he was open to Alonso returning but stated that he felt the Spaniard did not like him despite there not being any rift between the two.

"I don't mind. I don't know why..(but) I don't think he never really liked me,” Vettel said, as quoted on PitPass. "I don't think we really had a problem... I don't mind him.”

“I respect him for what he achieved and for what he can do on track. I don't know. Bring him back, I don't mind,” the Ferrari driver added referring to Alonso’s two F1 Drivers’ world championships.

Alonso was asked about Vettel’s comments during a recent Instagram Q&A he conducted and the Spaniard denied any rift between the two and admitted he “feels bad” that the German thinks that he is disliked by the former Ferrari driver.

"I feel bad that he thinks like that," Alonso said. "I heard that, but it's not true at all, I feel bad that he thinks like that. We always respected each other and had a very pleasant relationship. Perhaps it was because of the press, the situation, but I repeat that it's the opposite."