5 instances in Formula 1 where teammates simply hated each other

At odds (and ends) Williams teammates Mansell(L) and Piquet did not like each other
At odds (and ends) Williams teammates Mansell(L) and Piquet did not like each other

#4 Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso- McLaren

Alonso Hamilton 2007 McLaren
Not-so-happy faces: Hamilton and Alonsos single year as teammates was fraught with contention

The 2007 Formula One season saw Fernando Alonso move to the McLaren team, and partnering him was the fresh-faced newcomer Lewis Hamilton.

Straight off the bat, the pair engaged in a fierce battle for the title, both looking for a first two-time World Champion Alonso for his first title with McLaren, and Hamilton looking to rewrite history by being the first rookie driver to win the title.

Unfortunately, they saw each other as obstacles in the way and then the real battle was on. Things turned ugly at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year when Alonso allegedly impeded Hamilton long enough for the Briton to fail to set a qualifying lap. The Hungaroring is one racetrack where qualifying is absolutely crucial so as one can imagine Hamilton was liv when he lost outto Alonso for pole position.

Although Hamilton publicly declared his admiration for Renault champion Alonso ahead of joining the team, McLaren boss Ron Dennis has gone on record to say Hamilton threw the first blow in the pairs contentious relationship.

The bitterness led Alonso to leave his contract 3 years early to rejoin Renault in 2008 and was replaced by Finnish Heikki Kovalainen alongside Hamilton.

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Edited by Staff Editor