Fernando Alonso says it’s ‘impossible’ to drive with Lewis Hamilton at Monaco Grand Prix
Traffic was, unsurprisingly, a major theme on day one at the Monaco Grand Prix. 1996 world champion Damon Hill has called for the FIA to ‘do something’ to address the issue.
There were several near-misses as cars on hot laps encountered slow-moving obstacles. Max Verstappen hit out at the ‘unacceptable’ Gabriel Bortoleto after two run-ins at the Swimming Pool chicane, while Lewis Hamilton nearly hit Pierre Gasly at Massenet.
Hamilton was himself a target of ire for former teammate Alonso. In an unbroadcast radio message during FP2, F1’s most experienced driver ranted about the two Ferrari cars crawling out of the Nouvelle chicane.
The report notes that Alonso also criticised Hamilton and Leclerc at the Emilia Romagna GP, accusing them of driving as if they owned the track.
The incredible Fernando Alonso moment that TV cameras missed
Back in 2011, Alonso issued a glowing verdict on Hamilton, calling him ‘the only driver capable of winning races in a car which is not the best’. This year, he’s reserved that kind of praise for Verstappen.
The career paths of the two drivers have diverged since their 2007 partnership at McLaren. Alonso has primarily been in the midfield since his 2014 Ferrari exit, while Hamilton pulled off a masterstroke by joining Mercedes on the eve of their dominance.
This year, they’re both struggling, albeit for different reasons. It’s still early, but it’s not out of the question that this will be the first season without a Hamilton or Alonso podium since 2002.
Having dubbed himself ‘the unluckiest driver in the world’, Alonso mounted a stunning late charge at Imola to finish P11. It went unnoticed on the main broadcast as he missed out on the points, but F1 fans dubbed him a ‘beast’ nonetheless.
