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‘How wrong he was’ – Fernando Alonso’s Lewis Hamilton prediction came back to haunt him
Off the back of two world titles to dethrone Michael Schumacher at the top of Formula 1, Fernando Alonso was riding a generational wave. However, the Spaniard was completely unaware of what was about to hit him. Alonso was the favourite for the 2007 title, until he realised how good his new teammate wasAFP Dennis had been cooking up an almighty moveAFP A winter switch to McLaren in 2007 saw him pair up with the most formidable of opponents. Alonso had ended the longest winning streak in F1 as he downed Schumacher’s Ferrari in his unfancied Renault, and did it again in 2006. That lined him up for a blockbuster big money move across to McLaren, and a switch that almost guaranteed him another title challenge. One thing wasn’t for certain, though, who his teammate would be, yet team principal Ron Dennis had been lining up that role for 11 years. Lewis Hamilton was the brave young talent who changed the course of history, as he recalled: “I met Ron in 1995, my dad was like ‘that’s the guy that built the cars Ayrton [Senna] used to race, the McLarens’. “I’d been such a fan watching Ayrton race so that was my dream, the MP4/4 was my dream car so I was like ‘this is the guy I need to go and speak to’.” Dennis later gave his version of events, saying: “He asked for my autograph, two years later he came back and asked for it again, and there was a sort of brightness and determination on his face.” He then honestly explained: “Now at that time, I was a bit bored, that’s the truth. “I said ‘I’ve been thinking about it, and here’s the deal I will sponsor your future seasons but you have to understand, you have to do everything I say’. Then, to his disappointment, I said: ‘The first thing is you’re going back to school’.” “It wasn’t about forcing him into an education, it was more about keeping him in a normal life.” Dennis shocked the sport with his new rookieGetty Alonso and Hamilton worked together as best they couldAFP And the next year they were celebrating a titleGetty The decision proved inspired, with Hamilton forging a path across Europe with his father Anthony and often future rival Nico Rosberg and his world champion father Keke. A stellar junior career followed and then, in 2006, Hamilton did what the best do, and won GP2 (now Formula 2) at the first time of asking. That was enough to convince Dennis of who was going to fill his second seat for 2007, even though his newly signed No.1, Alonso, wasn’t so sure. Recalling the reveal, Dennis said: “I went to Fernando and said ‘by the way, I’ve decided to put Lewis in the car’. “He thought for a moment and said ‘don’t you want to win the constructors?’ meaning that he didn’t feel Lewis was going to be much of a threat or much of a points scorer. “I look back on and smile about it now, because of how wrong he was.” Hamilton instantly proved that he wasn’t a back up, recording podiums in his first five Grands Prix before winning the next two. He and Alonso shared a number of massive flashpoints throughout the campaign, seeing the elder Spaniard leave the team after just one season. That following year Hamilton then claimed his first title, and the rest was history as he racked up six more with Mercedes. Explaining why Dennis’ call wasn’t in any way a fluke, much-loved F1 pundit Martin Brundle explained: “Ron’s vision meant that he could see someone like Lewis as a teenager going so well in karting. “Who knows where Lewis’ career would’ve gone if Ron hadn’t have picked him up and helped him through those stages into what was then a winning Formula 1 car.” Hamilton himself is well aware of that too, crediting his old boss in 2020 after matching Michael Schumacher’s seven titles. “He created an opportunity for me that no one else had the kindness in their heart to do, we spoke to so many people,” the Stevenage-born star said. SkyDennis’ magic eye and Hamilton’s persistence changed the sport forever[/caption] “It’s interesting, today I see so many people who now support me, when back then when we tried to sell them the dream of being the first black Formula 1 driver or black family in the sport, they didn’t support us back then or thought it was impossible or they laughed, but now they’re supporters. “Ron was the only one that saw something in me that no one else did. I feel very indebted to him and I forever will have a huge amount of love for Ron.” As for Alonso, he never won another championship, and is still chasing the dream almost two decades later at the age of 43.
Off the back of two world titles to dethrone Michael Schumacher at the top of Formula 1, Fernando Alonso was riding a generational wave.
However, the Spaniard was completely unaware of what was about to hit him.
A winter switch to McLaren in 2007 saw him pair up with the most formidable of opponents.
Alonso had ended the longest winning streak in F1 as he downed Schumacher’s Ferrari in his unfancied Renault, and did it again in 2006.
That lined him up for a blockbuster big money move across to McLaren, and a switch that almost guaranteed him another title challenge.
One thing wasn’t for certain, though, who his teammate would be, yet team principal Ron Dennis had been lining up that role for 11 years.
Lewis Hamilton was the brave young talent who changed the course of history, as he recalled: “I met Ron in 1995, my dad was like ‘that’s the guy that built the cars Ayrton [Senna] used to race, the McLarens’.
“I’d been such a fan watching Ayrton race so that was my dream, the MP4/4 was my dream car so I was like ‘this is the guy I need to go and speak to’.”
Dennis later gave his version of events, saying: “He asked for my autograph, two years later he came back and asked for it again, and there was a sort of brightness and determination on his face.”
He then honestly explained: “Now at that time, I was a bit bored, that’s the truth.
“I said ‘I’ve been thinking about it, and here’s the deal I will sponsor your future seasons but you have to understand, you have to do everything I say’. Then, to his disappointment, I said: ‘The first thing is you’re going back to school’.”
“It wasn’t about forcing him into an education, it was more about keeping him in a normal life.”
The decision proved inspired, with Hamilton forging a path across Europe with his father Anthony and often future rival Nico Rosberg and his world champion father Keke.
A stellar junior career followed and then, in 2006, Hamilton did what the best do, and won GP2 (now Formula 2) at the first time of asking.
That was enough to convince Dennis of who was going to fill his second seat for 2007, even though his newly signed No.1, Alonso, wasn’t so sure.
Recalling the reveal, Dennis said: “I went to Fernando and said ‘by the way, I’ve decided to put Lewis in the car’.
“He thought for a moment and said ‘don’t you want to win the constructors?’ meaning that he didn’t feel Lewis was going to be much of a threat or much of a points scorer.
“I look back on and smile about it now, because of how wrong he was.”
Hamilton instantly proved that he wasn’t a back up, recording podiums in his first five Grands Prix before winning the next two.
He and Alonso shared a number of massive flashpoints throughout the campaign, seeing the elder Spaniard leave the team after just one season.
That following year Hamilton then claimed his first title, and the rest was history as he racked up six more with Mercedes.
Explaining why Dennis’ call wasn’t in any way a fluke, much-loved F1 pundit Martin Brundle explained: “Ron’s vision meant that he could see someone like Lewis as a teenager going so well in karting.
“Who knows where Lewis’ career would’ve gone if Ron hadn’t have picked him up and helped him through those stages into what was then a winning Formula 1 car.”
Hamilton himself is well aware of that too, crediting his old boss in 2020 after matching Michael Schumacher’s seven titles.
“He created an opportunity for me that no one else had the kindness in their heart to do, we spoke to so many people,” the Stevenage-born star said.
“It’s interesting, today I see so many people who now support me, when back then when we tried to sell them the dream of being the first black Formula 1 driver or black family in the sport, they didn’t support us back then or thought it was impossible or they laughed, but now they’re supporters.
“Ron was the only one that saw something in me that no one else did. I feel very indebted to him and I forever will have a huge amount of love for Ron.”
As for Alonso, he never won another championship, and is still chasing the dream almost two decades later at the age of 43.
