Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, two of the most experienced and successful drivers in Formula One, have a storied rivalry dating back to their controversial 2007 title battle as McLaren team-mates.

Their competitive history was reignited at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where tensions flared on the track once again.

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Abu Dhabi incident

During the final race of the season, an incident involving Alonso and Hamilton caught the attention of the F1 community. Alonso, who had just come out of the pits, found Hamilton on his tail as he approached turn five. In a move that baffled and infuriated Hamilton, Alonso braked earlier than expected, prompting Hamilton to accuse him of brake testing.

Although the stewards briefly considered the incident for possible erratic driving, they ultimately decided not to investigate further.

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Alonso’s strategy, reaction and swipe at Hamilton

After the race, Alonso, now a veteran in every sense aged 42, explained that his strategy was to force Hamilton to overtake him just before the DRS activation line in order to gain an advantage with extra speed on the straight that followed. He cited a similar tactic used in Canada way back in 2012, claiming victory on both occasions and pointing to his greater experience in the sport compared to Hamilton.

“We did the same in Canada, I think, in 2012,” he told reporters.

“So 11 years after that episode, we try just to give the DRS to the other guy, braking for turn five. But in both cases, I won. So it’s okay. ”

Alonso then takes a swipe at Hamilton saying “Obviously, Lewis is very clever, understands the sport really well and has a lot of experience… But I have more.”

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Webber’s criticism: Alonso ‘dangerous’

Mark Webber, a former Red Bull driver and current Channel 4 analyst, criticised Alonso’s manoeuvre, despite being a long time friend of the Spaniard. He described the interaction as “a bit personal”, suggesting it stemmed from their long-standing rivalry.

Webber highlighted the risk involved in Alonso’s actions, pointing to the Spaniard’s prolonged mirror-checking and off-track veering as potentially dangerous.

He said: “This is a bit personal. We know that these two have a lot of history. Down to the DRS, so they’re basically playing, Fernando was trying to manipulate the DRS point, obviously they’re into the activation onto this long back straight.

“And when we go on board, watch Fernando in the mirror – he’s looking, he’s looking, so long, he’s actually off the track, he’s lifting. That could have got quite embarrassing, but also, [it was] a bit dangerous.”

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Despite the controversial encounter, Alonso finished the race in seventh place, ahead of Hamilton in ninth. It was a difficult race weekend for Hamilton, whose Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished third.

The latest chapter in the Hamilton-Alonso rivalry underlines the intense personal dynamic that can arise between seasoned competitors in Formula One. While their on-track battles continue to captivate fans, incidents like the one in Abu Dhabi also raise questions about the limits of strategic racing and the fine line between competitive spirit and risky behaviour. 

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