When Fernando Alonso once snubbed Lewis Hamilton after being asked to name his greatest F1 rival

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At the end of the 2018 Formula 1 season, the sport was preparing to say goodbye to Fernando Alonso.

After making his F1 debut in 2001 with Minardi, Fernando Alonso went on to win two world championships, 32 races and secured nearly 100 podium finishes.

His career had taken him Renault, McLaren and Ferrari but he always seemed to be at the right team at the wrong time.

Alonso’s 2007 duel with Lewis Hamilton was well-documented and although tensions were high during that campaign, his second spell with the team was even worse.

Three 2^nd-place finishes in the Drivers’ Championship with Ferrari in a car that shouldn’t have been capable of regularly challenging for titles highlighted just how good Alonso was.

His career spanned nearly two decades before he decided to try his hand and the 24 Hours of Le Mans and IndyCar and then eventually make a comeback to F1 in 2021.

However, during what was supposed to be his final pre-race press conference in 2018, Alonso was asked who his greatest rival was in the sport.

Surprisingly, Alonso didn’t choose Hamilton despite their heated battles throughout their careers.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Fernando Alonso named Michael Schumacher as his greatest Formula 1 rival

Instead, Alonso chose Michael Schumacher even though their careers only overlapped for a few years when they were both at their peaks.

In the final few years of Schumacher’s career, Alonso dominated with Renault, while the German’s return with Mercedes saw him only finish on the podium once.

Meanwhile, when Schumacher was dominating the sport at the start of the 2000s, Alonso was either at Minardi, off the grid, or helping develop Renault into a championship-winning team.

Alonso was asked about his greatest rival in F1 after coming up against so many brilliant drivers and said: “It’s difficult to choose one. Obviously, if I have to say one, it will be Michael.

“Not because [of] any particular reason it was just because, when I got to Formula One, Michael was dominating the sport and you are in go-karts and you see Michael winning, you are different categories, you see Michael winning, and then eventually you find yourself fighting wheel-to-wheel.

“So, those battles were definitely special, or more emotional at that time – but yes, as you said, I think we had, and probably have right now the most talented generation. Because all drivers now, they are more prepared.”

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Michael Schumacher vs Fernando Alonso’s Formula 1 career

There are very few drivers who can be compared to seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher and while statistically Alonso won’t ever match his championship tally, ability-wise they’re extremely close.

Alonso can at least say that his return to Formula 1 has gone better than Schumacher’s did in 2020.

He’s already achieved eight more podiums in that time but his wait for a 33^rd F1 victory now extends more than a decade.

The Spaniard has also proven to have more longevity than Schumacher but his success has proven to be incredibly difficult to replicate.

Alonso is signed up until at least 2026 at Aston Martin and will hope the upcoming rule changes are in the British team’s favour.

Aston Martin have signed the likes of Andy Cowell and Enrico Cardile with Adrian Newey potentially on the way to Aston Martin as well, Alonso will have one of the strongest teams possible to challenge for championships once again.