At 39 and 42 respectively, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are by far the oldest drivers on the grid. Their rivalry, which began on the circuit in 2007, has spanned many years. Despite starting their careers in the noughties, both drivers are far from finished with Formula 1. In fact, they have broken the record for the longest-running rivalry in the sport.
The Rivalry That Stands the Test of Time
Looking at the latest statistics, it’s clear that Alonso and Hamilton have shared the highs and lows of 300 Grand Prix races. Interestingly, their rivalry began within the same team – Hamilton, a McLaren rookie, was paired with reigning world champion Fernando Alonso. After a tumultuous year, the drivers ended up tied in the championship, just behind champion Kimi Räikkönen. Alonso then returned to Renault, and the rest is history.
Record-Breaking Rivalry
With their 300 confrontations, Alonso and Hamilton hold the record for the longest-running rivalry in Formula 1. The competition between Hamilton and Vettel (298 shared races) comes in second, followed by Alonso versus Räikkönen (291 shared races). As neither of them plans to retire soon, their lead is only set to increase.
The Future of the Rivalry
Alonso has committed to Aston Martin until 2026, and Hamilton plans to stay with Ferrari until then. Assuming the 2026 season also includes 24 races, the two will have shared 363 Grand Prix races by the end of it.
