Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso has played down suggestions that Lewis Hamilton looks set to be his toughest teammate yet in formula one.
The Spaniard only managed to get ahead of debutant Hamilton, 22, in the final pit stops in Melbourne last Sunday, amid some suggestions that McLaren had to employ a pitwall tactic to ensure the finishing order.
Alonso, 25, told Spanish reporters on Sunday that he had felt slightly held up behind Briton Hamilton, but admitted: “It’s true that it was a good fight, as I always seemed to have with my teammates in Australia.
“I remember (Giancarlo) Fisichella winning the race (in 2005).”
Prior to Fisichella, Alonso was paired with Jarno Trulli at Renault, and he pointed out: “I had difficult moments with him in 2004, he won in Monaco and he had more podiums than me.
“So I am not agreed with you that Lewis is the fastest one I have been against.
“Fisichella normally started the seasons better than me, last year he won in Malaysia as well.
“So I see it more or less similar to today,” Alonso insisted.
