Fernando Alonso says he sees Lewis Hamilton as a differܫent Formula 1 champion to his rivals which he has noticed during the ups and downs of the British driver’s career.

The McLaren driver applauded his former team-mates success after Hamilton sealed a fourth F1 world title at the Mexican Grand Prix last weekend, while the pair were involved in a frantic late race battle after Hamilton had picked up a punct🦂ure and diffuser damage in an opening lap tussle with Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

Alonso believes Hamilton is a worthy champion in 2017 who has also excell🔴ed both when he’s had a dominant and an under-performing car in F1 which makes him sꦰtandout against his fellow world champion rivals.

“He was able to win in the junior categories before moving into F1,” Alonso said. “He already had trophies and championships in his pocket coming and arrived in F1 in every single season performing very competitively apart from one or two with 🧸Jenson when he had some issues there.

“Lewis is one of the champions who has been able to win with a dominant car, like the last three years, with a good car, like in 20🍰10 or 2012, and with bad cars like 2009 or 2011. Not all the champions can say that.”