Fernando Alonso admits F1 fans would be licking their lips if he and Lewis Hamilton became team-mates once again, and believes they could work together effectively this time.
The duo both raced for McLaren when young prodigy Hamilton entered F1 in 2007, but it was a tumultuous campaign as double world champion Alonso sought to establish himself as number one driver relative to the ‘new kid on the block’, with tensions reaching their peak in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix as the Spaniard held up his teammate in the pitlane to deny him a final flying lap.
Nine years later, the pair find themselves racing at opposite ends of the grid, but with rumours that Alonso is eyeing a move to Mercedes in 2018, the prospect of a sensational reunion is not entirely fantastical.
And if the pair did race alongside each other yet again, Alonso reckons their relationship would be “very different”.
“I think it would be different,” the 35-year old told ESPN. “I’m more mature, he’s more mature. The teams now are, in a way, more prepared for all the situations.
“If I was teammate of Lewis one day I think it would be very different because we have learned and we are very different people. We no longer have that… let’s say that stress of winning on the side because I think we respect each other a lot.
“Everyone respects us a lot and we would drive as fast as we can but with another level of respect.”
Alonso acknowledges that F1 fans would love to see the duo back in the same colours, provided they could battle for race victories.
“I think everyone would love it, but only if the team is competitive, because it is the same case as Jenson [Button] and me.
“I think yes, Formula One, or the fans, or everyone will love to see the big names, or the champions, fighting for the wins but this is probably not possible because in the DNA of the sport only one team can win.”
The F1 veteran is confident McLaren can avoid a similar situation if they choose to promote the highly-rated Stoffel Vandoorne to the race team for 2017.
“In 2007 it was very unique because Lewis was very protected by McLaren from a very young age, he was part of the programme, and he was very fast. We had a very competitive car so we were certainly fighting for the World Championship when no one was expecting, and he was British. So, Stoffel is not British. That’s enough of the difference, I think [to prevent any issues].”
