I like Hamilton, and am not a fan of Alonso (I was a massive Fisichella fan too). But with increasingly less grudge, I am finding I have to give credit where it's due. He just keeps on surprising me with what he can do. I've always felt Alonso has been underrated actually. And I think he still is even now. He surprised me in 2001 often beating (admittedly awful) Benettons, Prosts, Arrows, even Jaguar's and BAR's, including the great Michael beater Jacques Villeneuve (to think some people rate Hamilton on a par with only the 1997 champ is surely blasphemous). In 2003, Alonso beat David Coulthard in the championship and remarkably got within a few points of Ralf Schumacher and even Rubens Barrichello in a Ferrari!!! Trulli managed just one 3rd place in 2003, in Hockenheim marginally ahead of Alonso. Alonso won in Hungary, and was well on course to win Australia, Brazil and Japan too! His drive in Spain that year was awesome. Ok 2004 wasn't quite so stellar, but I think that was something to do with how amazing Jarno Trulli really could be. Because of this apparent weakness, it gave the impression he would have a hard time with Fisichella (just coming off a very strong 2004 where he floored Massa more than the statistics show) in 2005. For Fernando's next trick, he demolished my all-time favourite driver (sob), though in 2005 even to this day I believe he did get help from Flav. I anticipated a stronger comeback Fisichella for 2006, especially since Flav now seemed to be genuinely supporting him in the wake of Alonso's defection to McLaren. And suddenly Fisi had perfect reliability (funny that) except for the first race where I believe it was a genuine mistake. Anyway there was no excuse in 2006, Alonso outclassed his team-mate on pure performance with or without any sly stuff behind closed doors. He also beat Michael in a straight fight, Mano a mano. And yet people still thought Michael was the better driver... Astonishing stuff. It says much for how great Fernando is that even in a disastrous 2007 season, he still scored 4 wins and came 1pt (2 really cos of countback against Kimi) of the title. He won twice in a nowhere Renault, and on one of those occassions without cheating. Fisi didn't get 1 podium in that car, and wouldn't have in 2008 either I believe. In 2009 scored ALL Renault's points - enough said. Now he is surprising me again by leading the championship and scoring 2 poles in that car. People keep saying that Massa's in a slump. I tell you what guys, why don't you just man up like I did with Fisichella and just admit Alonso is better? Massa simply isn't in his class full stop. Never was and never will be. (I highly doubt it anyway) I forgot to say that Alonso also totally blew away champion Villeneuve when Jacques joined Renault at the end of 2004.