LEWIS HAMILTON has been “lucky” to win seven world titles, Fernando Alonso claims.
Hamilton’s long-time rival still rates the Brit as an all-time great F1 driver – thanks to having “dominant cars”.
Alonso reckons Michael Schumacher in the past and reigning champ Max Verstappen now were fortunate for the same reason.
The Spaniard himself won the 2005 and 2006 crowns with Renault.
And his feisty relationship with Hamilton appears to have cooled in recent years.
In fact the 41-year-old Aston Martin ace is in third place, seven points clear of Hamilton’s Mercedes, in this year’s championship.
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Hamilton, 38, is chasing his first win of the season at Baku this Sunday – but Red Bull are in control.
Verstappen leads the table on 69 points ahead of RB team-mate Sergio Perez on 54 and Alonso on 45.
But Alonso believes Hamilton’s status as a legend is secure – even if he fails to land the single title needed to go one clear of Schumacher for the most ever.
He told Marca: “I have a lot of respect for him.
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‘Maybe this year we find ourselves racing together and with similar cars, in this part of the year.
“In Australia we were within a two-second margin the whole race and it was a very close fight (you think about it), but yes, I still think he is one of the best in history.
“At the same time he has been lucky or has known to be in a dominant car for many years and when that happens, Schumacher won seven titles, Lewis also seven, Verstappen is on his way to third, I won two.
“To be champion you need the best car.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
