Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are two legendary Formula 1 drivers. In 2010 and 2012, the two men battled it out right up until the final Grand Prix of the season to win the world championship. And despite all these years spent together in the paddock, Vettel admits that he has never developed any kind of friendly relationship with the Spaniard.
In 2022, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso caused a stir in the paddock. When he announced his retirement, the German likely had not anticipated he would cause such a huge change in the teams’ driver lineups.
Indeed, Fernando Alonso decided to leave Alpine to take the German’s seat at Aston Martin. Before that, their history had already been linked in Formula 1. In 2010 and 2012, they had fought it out for the world title. And after 15 seasons of being together, Vettel and Alonso have not become friends.
“I don’t know him”
“I have a high regard for Fernando as a driver. He has a huge amount of natural talent, incredible determination, a great instinct as a driver that has not been lost over the years.
“You can see that he loves racing. He is very passionate. As a person, though, I don’t really know him. I wouldn’t say we don’t get on, I think we respect each other. But we never had the opportunity to get to know each other, to spend time together or to talk a lot outside of the race,” Sebastian Vettel described Fernando Alonso in detail in comments reported by the French publication, Actu F1.
“The relationship never really took off”
Sebastian Vettel continued and concluded:
“He is a great driver, probably one of the toughest I have ever been around. He’s always there and never backs down, but also very respectful in close battles, which I liked. But, as a person, the relationship never really took off because we just don’t know each other well.”
Perhaps a tragic and dire admission on Fernando Alonso’s account, considering Sebastian Vettel’s unfailing friendliness with many of the drivers in the paddock.
READ MORE F1 NEWS: Szafnauer spills the beans on Stroll’s Aston Martin
