Although Lewis Hamilton is widely considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history with seven world titles and over 100 race wins, 1997 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes that Fernando Alonso deserves the crown of the "true champion."
In an interview on The Red Flags Podcast, Villeneuve directly compared Hamilton and Alonso, clearly favoring the Spaniard. “I would choose Alonso because Hamilton had many up-and-down seasons. Yes, he has more titles, but numbers alone aren’t everything,” he said, criticizing Hamilton’s inconsistent performances and reliance on superior cars.
Villeneuve emphasized that several of Hamilton’s titles with Mercedes came during a period of clear technical dominance. “Even Bottas could have been champion with those cars. Hamilton forgot how to fight during those seasons,” Villeneuve remarked. He noted that while Hamilton’s first title was hard-earned, the rest became progressively easier.
On the other hand, Alonso’s journey has been one of constant struggle and resilience. Despite his immense talent, Villeneuve noted that Alonso made unfortunate team choices. “Hamilton was always at the right place at the right time. Alonso wasn’t. He came close with Ferrari, losing the title twice in the final race. At McLaren, internal conflicts ruined everything,” he explained.
Villeneuve pointed specifically to the 2007 season, when Alonso joined McLaren as a two-time world champion, only to find himself overshadowed by rookie Lewis Hamilton. “Ron Dennis made Hamilton the future of the team and isolated Alonso. This inner turmoil also destabilized the team,” said Villeneuve.
His comments underline that greatness in Formula 1 is not merely defined by statistics, but also by perseverance, character, and the battles fought along the way. For Villeneuve, Alonso embodies the spirit of a true champion.