F1 News: Alonso Praises Hamilton After Saying 'Anyone Can Win In A Mercedes'

Fernando Alonso will rekindle his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton when he returns to the Formula 1 grid after a two-year hiatus in 2021.

The Spaniard had suggested earlier that anyone can win in a Mercedes, which seemed like a dig towards the British driver. However, he has clarified that by now praising his longtime rival.

Mercedes and Hamilton have been the dominant force in F1 these past seven seasons, having notched up seven Constructors’ and six Drivers’ titles together respectively.

Alonso believes that Hamilton is a cut above the rest, pointing at his dominance over teammate Valtteri Bottas in the same machinery as a prime example.

“Okay, he has a dominant car, but he’s better than his teammate,” Alonso told Spanish publication Marca. “You always have to show up, he can’t afford a bad weekend, he’s at the peak of his performance. Hopefully, we can fight Lewis soon, not next year, but soon.”

“I think a lot of people can win a Grand Prix with that car and they can win championships in that car. That doesn’t mean anything bad about Lewis like I said, he’s one step ahead,” he added.

The 39-year-old will drive for the Renault factory team which will be rechristened Alpine F1 for the 2021 season and beyond. It is the same team with whom the Spaniard won his two Drivers’ championship titles in 2005 and 2006.

Though odds are stacked against them next season, Alonso is confident that Renault could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with F1 frontrunners like Mercedes and Red Bull someday.

“They (Mercedes) will win again in 2021, Red Bull will fight for second place and it remains to be seen who will be third,” Alonso said, as quoted on GrandPX. “The real challenge is 2022, but F1 does not seem to have changed. Same people, same rules. Who was strong two years ago is strong today."