Nelson Piquet Jr. claims Fernando Alonso still outperforms Lewis Hamilton in terms of motivation. Nelson Piquet Jr. compares Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

A different opinion nearly twenty years later

In a recent interview given to the Brazilian podcast Pelas Pistas, former Formula 1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. reiterated Lewis Hamilton’s superiority during his rookie season in Formula 1 compared to other debutants in the sport. According to the son of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, the British driver delivered outstanding performances in 2007, coming within just one point of winning the world championship. However, over the years, Piquet Jr.’s view of Hamilton has changed dramatically.

The hunger for victory

Nineteen years after the famous McLaren internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and his then-teammate Fernando Alonso, it is the Spaniard who currently impresses Piquet Jr. the most, for several reasons—not least his continued desire to win at the age of 44.

“Lewis no longer has the love, passion and hunger for victories that Fernando still has, even though he is older than him,” Piquet Jr. explained to SoyMotor. “He is five or six years older than my generation and Lewis’s generation, yet he has more passion than many other drivers. That is very admirable. Fernando is similar to Verstappen because he loves racing. He is a racer and incredibly fast. When I raced with Fernando almost 20 years ago, he was at the peak of his career and very difficult to beat during race weekends.”

“Twenty years later, he still has the same hunger,” he continued. “That is admirable because it is not easy. You don’t see the same determination in Lewis, for example, but Fernando has more of it than most drivers on the grid. I respect him a lot.”

Nelson Piquet Jr.’s comments highlight the contrasting career paths of two of the sport’s greatest icons. While Lewis Hamilton’s historic move to Ferrari in 2025 was meant to revitalize his chase for an eighth title, observers like Piquet believe the sheer competitive spirit displayed by Alonso at Aston Martin remains the gold standard for longevity. Whether this perceived lack of “grit” will affect Hamilton’s legacy in red remains to be seen, but for now, the Spaniard’s eternal hunger continues to set him apart in the twilight of his career.