Nelson Piquet Jr. believes Lewis Hamilton no longer has the same hunger for Formula 1, unlike Fernando Alonso, who he feels still shows that fire despite being older. Hamilton and Alonso are undoubtedly the two great veterans of the grid, with the seven-time world champion having turned 41 last January, while the Spaniard is set to celebrate his 45th birthday in the coming months.
Speaking to Soy Motor, Piquet praised Alonso’s speed and relentless drive, highlighting how he still carries the same motivation and hunger he had two decades ago - something he described as highly admirable.
"His speed, he’s a very fast guy, who’s always very hungry. He has the same motivation and the same hunger as he did 20 years ago. It’s something very admirable."
He contrasted that with Hamilton, suggesting the same level of passion and intensity is no longer as evident, despite Alonso being older.
"You don’t see the same thing with Lewis, for example. Lewis doesn’t have the love, passion, and hunger that Fernando still has, and Fernando is older. He’s five or six years older than my and Lewis’s generation, and he has more passion than many of the other drivers. That’s very respectable."
Make GPblog your preferred source on Google and see our content first in Google Discover and Google News. Nigel Mansell tips 'reinvigorated' Hamilton for eighth world title
He pointed out that Norris still has plenty of time on his side to achieve similar success, while urging Hamilton to make the most of the opportunity and complete what would be a remarkable chapter in his career.
Follow GPblog on social media to stay updated on all Formula 1 news: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The Brit added that Hamilton looks fired up again, praising his career and suggesting he has been reinvigorated, while also highlighting
Ferrari’s strong work over the winter. He noted that Mercedes still appear to be the benchmark, with McLaren also expected to be firmly in the mix.
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