Damon Hill claims Lewis Hamilton is ‘playing with fire’ as the Mercedes driver teases Fernando Alonso, calling him ‘old and slow’

The pair of world champions are currently the oldest drivers on the grid.

Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso (Credits: News9, The Guardian and The Mirror)

At the Canadian Grand Prix, an enthralling affair saw Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton finishing in P2 and P3, respectively. However, before reaching the podium, Alonso and Hamilton had to endure 70 laps of intense racing. After the race, the Briton jokingly commented about the start, suggesting that Alonso’s old age was why he was slow off the line, allowing Hamilton to gain an advantage.

Despite Alonso taking the joke in good spirits, F1 pundit Damon Hill believes that Hamilton should tread carefully while making such remarks. He believes that provoking Alonso was a mistake primarily because Hamilton is almost as old as the Spanish driver.

While speaking to Express Sport, Hill said, “I thought he was playing with fire a little bit with the friendly dig he gave Fernando Alonso about jumping him at the start, saying that it’s because he’s a bit old now. Because the second oldest guy in Formula One is Lewis Hamilton! But the good thing is that Fernando shows there’s life after 40. Lewis is probably thinking: ‘Great, I’ve got a few more seasons.‘ “

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Despite the Briton jumping Fernando Alonso at the start, the 41-year-old veteran clawed the position back later, reemphasizing his hunger for success in F1 even in the closing stages of his career. The pair agreed on carrying the battle forward to Austria, which could see another exciting fight between the duo of world champions.

Lewis Hamilton made an admission after the race in Montreal

Lewis Hamilton (Credits: Business Insider India)

The two renowned drivers engaged in a thrilling battle for the second position on the podium, with Hamilton successfully overtaking Alonso at the start of the race. Although Hamilton managed to keep Alonso behind for the initial part of the race, Alonso eventually made a move. He passed Hamilton, resulting in both drivers trading the fastest laps during the second half of the Grand Prix.

Hamilton ultimately finished in third place, securing consecutive podium finishes for the first time in the season and marking his third podium finish of the entire campaign. He admitted the superiority of his former teammate and longstanding rival on that day, asserting that he was ultimately the quicker driver.

Fernando Alonso ve Lewis Hamilton'ın, Kanada GP startına verdiği reaksiyon süresi. pic.twitter.com/fjBsZzpLJF
— Sarı Bayrak (@saribayrak) June 23, 2023

Speaking to the BBC Chequered Flag Podcast, he said, “Yeah I was able to get him at the start but I just didn’t put up much of a fight at the end. I mean he was gonna pass me one way or the other. Pace-wise he was so much faster.”

The gap between the legends remains thin, with only 15 points putting Alonso ahead of Hamilton in the standings. Mercedes and Aston Martin are set to introduce upgrades in the coming weeks, which could potentially unfold in a tight battle between the duo as the world has witnessed in the past.