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maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 AUGUST 2019 21 SPORTS FORMULA 1 LEWIS Hamilton believes Red Bull should offer Fernando Alonso a sensational lifeline to return to Formula One. Double world champion Alon- so, 38, left the sport at the end of last year after he failed to land a top drive. Hamilton denied Max Verstap- pen a third win in four races at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but the Dutchman's Red Bull team- mate Pierre Gasly is under in- creasing pressure. Gasly is 118 points adrift of Verstappen in the standings, and finished a lap down at the Hun- garoring, prompting Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to say he "desperately" needs to improve. Alonso, who tweeted to praise both Hamilton and Verstap- pen on their fight for victory on Sunday, remains under contract with McLaren. But the British team have con- firmed their line-up for 2020, and they will not stand in Alon- so's way, effectively making him a free agent. The Spaniard failed to qualify for the Indy 500 earlier this year and is not due to race competi- tively again until the Dakar Rally in January. "There is still at least a seat available that's good enough for winning," said Hamilton, al- luding to Red Bull. "Fernando's good enough for winning. "The sport needs the best driv- ers in the best seats. Fernando's always welcome here to battle with us. I'm down to fight who- ever." Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel have come through the ranks at Red Bull but there is not a driver on their junior pro- gramme who the team feel is ready for a promotion. Alonso's management, headed up by Flavio Briatore, have al- ready been in contact with Red Bull about the prospect of going up against Verstappen. But Red Bull chief Dr Helmut Marko revealed that Alonso's poor relationship with Honda - following his public criticism of the Japanese manufacturer during their partnership with McLaren - could scupper his chances. "Alonso's representatives have let us know that he is available," said Marko. "But for Honda, Alonso is something impossi- ble." Former world champion Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, believes Mercedes should sign Alonso alongside Hamilton, with Valt- teri Bottas' future uncertain. "We should start a petition to get Alonso in that second Mer- cedes car," said Rosberg. "Let's bring him out of retirement and put him in the damn Mercedes next to Lewis. How cool would that be?" Hamilton starts his sum- mer break with a comfortable 62-point cushion in the cham- pionship following his best ever start to a season. His drive to vic- tory at the Hungaroring was his eighth from 12 rounds this year. Following his victory, the Eng- lishman said he was still not fully fit after his recent illness and in- tended to rest up over the next four weeks before the Belgian Grand Prix on September 1. "In the past I have gone into this break and I was 100 per cent fit so I could go and party for multiple days," he said. "But I am not in that place at the mo- ment. "I might try meditation and a healthier lifestyle. My close friends around me will be do- ing the same. I'll be doing a lot more reading. I'm excited about it. I want the second half of the season to be stronger than the first." Lewis Hamilton backs Fernando Alonso for F1 return Fernando Alonso