Ex-driver picks Alonso over Hamilton in equal machinery showdown

21:05, 11 Jan

Updated: 22:05, 11 Jan

bySamson Ero

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Fernando Alonso would outperform Lewis Hamilton if both were in the same car.

“I’d probably go [with] Fernando. Fernando is in a bad car.”

- Johnny Herbert

The 61-year-old, who recently appeared on the Stay on Track podcast, weighed in on the respective seasons both drivers experienced.

Herbert, who was accompanied by former F1 champion Damon Hill on the podcast, highlighted how difficult it was watching Hamilton struggle through the 2025 season compared to Alonso.

“It was uncomfortable to watch, and it was like, ‘Lewis, don’t do that. You never did that before,” Herbert explained.

Fernando Alonso during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

Stressing his point on which of the two champions would thrive if given a similar car, the former Benetton driver, leaning towards Alonso, continued:

“If I look at those two, I go, if he were given the car, which one would be the one I put my money on? I probably, unfortunately, sadly, say I’d probably go [with] Fernando. Fernando is in a bad car.”

Further adding credence to his choice, Herbert stated:

“I’m just saying he’s in a bad car in that Aston Martin; it’s not the best. He’s able to sort of squeeze that extra something out of it. I never saw that happen last year with Lewis, which I’m sort of shocked we never saw.”

“I’m sure he’s very frustrated and shocked that he wasn’t able to do it. I look at his face and those interviews after the race, and you go, he’s lost. He cannot understand what he needs to do to get around the problem he’s got,” he concluded.

Hamilton gets backing from Ferrari stalwart

Former Scuderia Ferrari engineer Jock Clear has leapt to Hamilton’s defence amid the wave of criticism he received during his debut campaign.

The 62-year-old, in his words, drew comparisons to Michael Schumacher, stressing the need for patience with Hamilton.

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