Hamilton's US open cameo sparks Alonso debate among tennis stars

Lewis Hamilton's appearance at the US Open women's final ignited a playful debate between tennis legends, reigniting the age-old Hamilton vs Alonso rivalry in an unexpected arena.

Formula 1's brief respite from on-track action saw the seven-time world champion make a surprise appearance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, catching the eye of Sky's tennis commentary team.

The Mercedes driver's presence at the event quickly became a talking point, overshadowing the tennis momentarily as commentators engaged in some light-hearted F1 banter.

Star-struck reaction

As Hamilton arrived at the venue, cameras caught the moment, prompting an enthusiastic reaction from former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli.

Her excitement was palpable, with Sky presenter Gigi Salmon noting Bartoli's adoration for the British racing driver.

"Oh my god! Oh my god!"

Bartoli could be heard exclaiming, her reaction drawing attention from fellow commentators.

Alonso vs Hamilton debate rekindled

The buzz surrounding Hamilton's appearance prompted former tennis pro Feliciano López to interject with a cheeky comment, reigniting the long-standing debate between Hamilton and his former McLaren teammate, Fernando Alonso.

"Alonso is a better driver,"

López quipped, drawing an immediate and animated response from Bartoli.

"No way!"

she retorted, defending her favourite F1 driver with passion.

The exchange highlighted the enduring nature of the Hamilton- Alonso rivalry, which continues to captivate fans and spark debate, even in unexpected settings like a tennis tournament.

Focus shifts to Baku

While Hamilton enjoyed his time at the US Open, where Aryna Sabalenka claimed her maiden title with a straight-sets victory over Jessica Pegula, the Mercedes team's attention is already turning to the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Mercedes' trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead at the Baku City Circuit, noting its unique characteristics and unpredictable nature.

"Baku's always been a really difficult circuit to guess where you're going to fall in the order,"

Shovlin explained.

"It's an unusual circuit because you've got this really tight, twisty, very low speed sector two, and then this really long straight."

Competitive field adds to uncertainty

The tight competition in the current Formula 1 field adds another layer of complexity to Mercedes' preparations for Baku.

With multiple teams often separated by mere tenths of a second, predicting performance becomes increasingly challenging.

"The other issue you've got this year is any given track you can end up with at least three if not four teams all within a tenth or two of each other,"

Shovlin added.

"That makes it very hard to predict where they're all going to fall in qualifying, and where people will stack out in race pace."

As the circus heads to Azerbaijan, Mercedes will be looking to recapture their pre-summer break form, which saw them secure three victories in four races.

However, with strong performances from rivals like Ferrari and McLaren in recent outings, and the ever-present threat of Red Bull, the Baku weekend promises to be another thrilling chapter in an increasingly unpredictable Formula 1 season.