Alonso downplays rivalry

Spaniard says he learned from Hamilton at McLaren

Last updated: 13th March 2008

fernando alonso renault 13/3/2008

Alonso: Challenge

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Fernando Alonso has played down suggestions that his rivaly with Lewis Hamilton could escalate now that they are racing for different teams.

Paired at McLaren-Mercedes, the duo spent a large part of last season battling both on and off the track as they fought for the championship.

However, this year they are no longer partners, with Red Bull's Mark Webber for one predicting that the rivalry between them could intensify.

"There was plenty of spice last year, a bit of a lovers' tiff between Lewis and Fernando Alonso within the same team," Webber said.

"I think the championship could be more fiery this year. It could actually get nastier in terms of the battle on the track because the gloves are off as two of those players are in different teams."

Compliment

However, with Hamilton sitting alongside him at a press conference in Melbourne ahead of Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Alonso preferred to compliment his former team-mate.

"When I changed and joined McLaren, Lewis was arriving to the team and was new to F1, so he was always giving fresh ideas to do things," said Alonso, who returned to Renault at the end of last season.

"You always learn from everybody. We are not together but we are still racing each other in different teams, with drivers that have been in F1 for a long time.

"There are new drivers coming in, every year is a challenge."