Lewis Hamilton has claimed that the competitive nature of F1’s ‘big three’ of himself, Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso is what sets them apart from their rivals.

The trio have picked up 12 world titles between them and, despite Hamilton and Alonso’s combined age of 81, the elder pair accumulated 13 podium finishes in 2023 despite inferior machinery.

That particular season was dominated by Verstappen, who broke multiple Formula 1 records on his way to a third consecutive world championship title.

42-year-old Alonso may have fewer championships and race victories than the other two, but is still largely regarded as one of the best drivers on the F1 grid, claiming eight podiums in 2023 in what he described as his ‘best season ever’.

The three men have 12 championship titles between them and all finished in the top four of the drivers’ championship in 2023, despite Hamilton and Alonso driving in cars suffering with inconsistent performance.

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion
Fernando Alonso has not won a world championship title since 2006

Hamilton’s supreme success

Now, Hamilton – who is often regarded as one of the most successful drivers in F1 history – has revealed the difference between these three drivers, and some of their competitors.

“I think Max and Fernando have one thing in common with me: all three of us are hugely competitive,” he revealed in an interview with Formule1.nl.

“We go to extremes to achieve what we want.

“What else they are like as people, I can’t say much about that. I only know them from the Formula One world, it’s not like I visit them, for example.

“I think all drivers in F1 are hugely driven. Just for different reasons. Different upbringing, different opportunities, different challenges.

“But I see a lot of similarities with all these drivers and also with younger drivers from Formula Two and Formula Three, for example.”