Lewis Hamilton recalls the turning point in his rivalry with Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton recalls his intense 2007 rivalry with Fernando Alonso at McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton spoke about how a key factor in his battle with Fernando Alonso at McLaren helped shape him during the most delicate period of his career.

During the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton recalled one of the most important moments from the start of his Formula 1 career, when as a rookie he found himself sharing the McLaren garage with reigning world champion Fernando Alonso. Now a Ferrari driver, Hamilton explained how having to “defend” his position in such a competitive environment and having to fight for equal conditions compared to his teammate was crucial to his development in the top category.

While recounting the events of his debut season [2007], Hamilton brought up a practice from that time: in the final stages of qualifying, teams would load the two drivers with different fuel levels, which inevitably influenced performance. In theory, this choice was supposed to alternate between the two drivers, but according to Hamilton, it was always the Spanish driver who benefited from the lighter fuel load, gaining at least a tenth of a second per lap over his younger teammate.
The turning point came after the Monaco GP, when Hamilton decided to take a stand and ask for equal treatment. His determination paid off: in the following race in Canada, he secured pole position and also claimed his first Formula 1 victory.

Lewis’s account
“Obviously, my victory at that Grand Prix [in 2007] was truly epic,” the Briton told the media. “I was just talking with my engineers – we had just rewatched the 2007 qualifying and my lap. That was the race where… back in the refueling days, the two cars were often separated by a few laps of fuel. One of them had a lighter tank and, I’m sure, in some teams they alternated.

“And since Fernando was the reigning world champion, he always received the lighter load. I almost always carried at least a tenth more fuel every time we went into qualifying – until that race [Canada 2007]. I remember that after Monaco I argued to get equal opportunities and the same chances, and from then on we were given the same fuel quantity.

“Then I outqualified him and won the race. It was one of those moments when you really have to listen to your gut and fight for what you feel is right – and for me, that was one of the high points of my career.”