In the F1 Nation podcast, Damon Hill also talked about the dispute between Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris in England, saying that Alpine and McLaren are "in a bar fight" in the 2022 World Championship
The 2022 Formula 1 season has been marked by several parallel disputes on the grid, and one that has gained momentum in recent races is between Alpine and McLaren. In the F1 Nation podcast, Damon Hill talked about the dispute between the two teams, which had another chapter in England between Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris. Hill even compared the current duel between Alpine and McLaren as "a bar fight.
The final ten laps of the British GP were electrifying, the likes of which have not been seen in F1 for a long time. At a certain moment, Alonso and Norris entered a dispute against Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for a place on the podium. The Mercedes representative got the better of the two-time champion, but Hill did not hide his admiration for his driving.
"He has an incredible racing ability and also an impressive awareness of what is going to happen strategically," said the Englishman. During the race, it was the safety-car strategy that led Alonso to stay ahead of Norris, as the Spaniard went into the pits to put on soft tires, while #4 stayed on track for another lap, saying afterwards that the blunder made McLaren lose fifth place "for free." "And the other thing is that there is this battle between Alpine and McLaren. You can't separate them, it's like a bar fight," he added.
In the constructors' championship standings, just six points separate the two teams, with the French team moving ever closer since Alonso has slipped into the points in the last five races. The Woking team, meanwhile, remains hostage to the results of Lando Norris, who finished the race at Silverstone in sixth - Daniel Ricciardo was only 13th.
"Lando had a great weekend, [but] where is Danny Ric?" inquired Hill. "What happened to Danny Ric this weekend? He went completely off the radar."
About the race itself, Hill said that the battles on the English circuit exemplify how F1 cars can maintain aerodynamic efficiency and still be closer together. "It was brilliant, no? After the safety-car, my mind was just focused on who would win, and I had Sergio [Pérez] lurking and Alonso too."
"We had very tight racing, and I think it shows how close these cars can get in the high air pressure corners. That made for a more exciting finish," he finished.