The 2026 Formula 1 season will once again place Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso on the same competitive stage, extending one of the longest-running rivalries in modern Grand Prix racing. Remarkably, it will mark the 18th season in which the two champions have shared the grid, a statistic that underlines both their longevity and their enduring relevance in a sport increasingly dominated by drivers half their age.
Their stories have been intertwined since 2007, when Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were paired together at McLaren. That season became one of the most controversial in Formula 1 history, with internal tension, equal treatment policies, and a title fight that ultimately slipped through McLaren’s fingers, allowing Kimi Raikkonen to secure his only world championship for Ferrari. That remains the most recent drivers’ title won by the Scuderia, a historical footnote that still looms large today.
Although Fernando Alonso stepped away from Formula 1 at the end of 2018, his absence was temporary. After conquering endurance racing with an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competing in the Indianapolis 500, and tackling the Dakar Rally, the Spanish driver returned to the Formula 1 grid in 2021 with Alpine. Since then, the Hamilton–Alonso rivalry has resumed, albeit in a very different phase of their careers.
While the two have never rebuilt a close personal relationship after their early clashes, both have continued to defy conventional expectations by racing well into their forties. However, recent seasons have painted contrasting pictures. Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult first year with Ferrari, struggling to consistently extract performance, while Fernando Alonso continued to deliver standout results for Aston Martin despite the team’s fluctuating competitiveness.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert question Lewis Hamilton’s edge
Looking ahead to 2026, former Formula 1 drivers Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert have analysed the form and mindset of the two veterans, suggesting that Fernando Alonso currently appears to possess a sharper competitive edge than the seven-time world champion.
Speaking on the Stay on Track podcast, Johnny Herbert highlighted that Fernando Alonso was still capable of producing exceptional performances, pointing to recent seasons as evidence that the Spaniard could repeatedly outperform the limitations of his machinery.
Damon Hill expanded on that assessment by suggesting that Fernando Alonso seemed driven by a desire to reclaim something he felt had been lost earlier in his career. Hill contrasted this with Lewis Hamilton, expressing concern that the Ferrari driver appeared emotionally drained at times, particularly in post-race settings where his body language and demeanour hinted at frustration and fatigue.
Johnny Herbert went further, arguing that watching Lewis Hamilton struggle to find solutions in 2025 was uncomfortable, especially because such visible uncertainty was not something typically associated with the British driver earlier in his career. When hypothetically comparing both drivers in equal machinery, Johnny Herbert suggested that Fernando Alonso would currently be the safer bet, largely because of his ability to extract unexpected performance from an underperforming Aston Martin.
According to Herbert, Fernando Alonso repeatedly demonstrated an ability to deliver beyond expectations, something he felt was missing from Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari campaign. This, he suggested, likely contributed to the Briton’s visible frustration, as the Briton appeared unable to fully understand or overcome the limitations he faced.
Lewis Hamilton facing familiar Ferrari challenges once seen by Fernando Alonso
The parallels between Lewis Hamilton’s situation at Ferrari and Fernando Alonso’s earlier stint with the Italian team are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Fernando Alonso spent five seasons at Ferrari between 2010 and 2014, finishing runner-up in the drivers’ championship on three occasions. Despite coming agonisingly close, he was ultimately beaten each time by Sebastian Vettel, who later experienced similar struggles after joining Ferrari himself.
Lewis Hamilton is now discovering firsthand why Fernando Alonso ultimately concluded that winning a championship with Ferrari was not possible during his tenure. One of the major complications for Hamilton is the presence of Charles Leclerc, who continues to establish himself as a potential world champion despite Ferrari’s ongoing structural and performance inconsistencies.
By contrast, Fernando Alonso enjoyed a clear advantage over Lance Stroll at Aston Martin in 2025, asserting himself as the team’s undisputed reference point even though the final championship gap between them was relatively modest. That internal authority has arguably allowed Alonso to maximise his influence and results.
As the 2026 season approaches, the contrast between the two champions raises uncomfortable questions for Ferrari. Fernando Alonso appears to have found a way to manage the physical and mental demands of Formula 1 deep into his forties, delaying the effects of decline through experience, adaptability, and relentless focus. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is still searching for that same equilibrium at Ferrari, with mounting pressure to prove that his move to Maranello can yet deliver the success both he and the team desperately seek.
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