Lewis Hamilton speaks out on Fernando Alonso's troubles at McLaren
LEWIS HAMILTON is desperate for Fernando Alonso to get over his current problems at McLaren and join a high-quality battle for the F1 World Drivers' Championship.
Lewis Hamilton wants Fernando Alonso back in a competitive car
Sebastian Vettel triumphed in the opening race of the season, securing Ferrari's first win since September 2015 by winning this morning's Australian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton nearly 10 seconds behind him.
And the Mercedes driver, whose team are chasing a fourth consecutive constructors' title, is excited to have a serious battle at the front.
But Hamilton also bemoaned the fact that Fernando Alonso, who retired from 10th, was not there to fight it out as well.
"This year you are seeing the best against the best with the best drivers at the top," Hamilton said.
Fernando Alonso's McLaren is one of the slowest cars on the grid at the moment
"It would be great if we had Fernando Alonso up there, too, but it doesn't look like that will happen any time soon."
Alonso, a world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is generally accepted as one of the grid's best drivers but has not been in a competitive car for some years.
Fernando Alonso retires from Australian Grand Prix
McLaren's ill-fated Honda switch coincided with his return to the team in 2015 - a move he only made after finishing third in the constructors' standing three times in four years with Ferrari.
The Spaniard's contract is up at the end of the year and he is expected to make a move into a faster car.
Lewis Hamilton is relishing the prospect of a title battle with Sebastian Vettel
But for the moment, Hamilton is glad of the challenge of Vettel, who is chasing a fifth world title.
"At least we have a great driver in Sebastian winning four titles after his incredible surge into Formula One and he will continue to be a force for many years to come," Hamilton added.
"I am really grateful to have that fight with him, against Ferrari which is the next best team, and there is a top driver there, too.
"It has been a privilege to be racing in an era with him and finally we are in a period of time when we can actually have a real race."