Lewis Hamilton says there is no reason for him to hold any💧 sadness over former teammate Fernando Alonso’s decision to quit Formula 1 for 2019, but feels it is a shame the Spaniard will depart without more acco✨lades to his name.

Alonso announced earlier this month he would be quꦫitting F1 for 2019 in order to pursue other challenges in motorspಌort, and confirmed on Thursday he was treꦿating the current season as his last in the sport despite the possibility for a ret💯urn in the future.

Hamilton raced alongside Alonso during his rookie F1 season in 2007, with the pair descending into a bitter rivalry as they duelled for the drivers’ championship, only for both 🥂to lose out 🌃to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Asked for his views on Alonso’s decision, Hamilton said there was no reason for him to be upset over it, and said that while he felt the current McLaren driver deserved more titles and accolades to his name, F1 was about more tha🐈n just on-track ability.

“Naturally I don’t hold sadness for it. There’s no reason for me to hold sadness for it,” H🥂amilton said.

“For sure, in the racing worඣld he will be missed, and within the racing the world he has been a really big part of it and is one of the greatest driveꦏrs that have ever been here.

“I would say it is a shame that༺ he is not as decorated as his ability deserves, but sport is a very interesting machine and it’s not just about being a great driver. It is how you manoeuvre, how you play the game, it’s like a chess game and how you position yourself with all the different things that are also part of the🃏 package.

“He is one of the greatest drivers I have driven ag🎉ainst and I wish him all the best. But 17 seasons is a lot, and I have huge respect for that because it is not easy for a driver to stay that long and perform.

“It’s a lot of commitment, a lo🌺t of time and a lot of dedication that people might not understand and appreciate. But naturally, as within any sport, I can appreciate it.”