'Monsters' like Alonso, Hamilton a rare breed in Formula 1, says former driver

Former Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa has described what he thinks sets apart "monsters" like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso from the rest of the F1 ranks.

The 51-year-old Spaniard is well placed to comment on both multiple former World Champions because he worked closely with them as a test driver when they raced for McLaren in 2007.

In particular, De la Rosa recalls a test in Bahrain where he was able to study the telemetry and compare his own performance with that of the duo who both missed out on the 2007 World Championship by a solitary point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Adapting to conditions

But rather than the hot conditions that are generally found in Sakhir, the veteran of 104 Grands Prix believes it is on an evolving circuit when Hamilton and Alonso produce the ability that makes them so "special".

"I still say they are special. From the guys I worked with, definitely very special," De la Rosa, who will be working alongside Alonso next year as an Aston Martin team ambassador, told the media.

"Not every new driver that comes into F1 is special. It's difficult to detect because all the drivers that come into Formula 1 have probably been special at one point in Formula 2, Formula 3, whatever. But then the reality comes when you're with these monsters (Hamilton and Alonso)."

Asked what it is about the duo that makes the difference, the 2006 Hungarian GP runner-up replied: "Adaptability…track conditions change.

"It's the fact every time you put on a new, or used, set of tyres, a good driver will need one lap, and you think, 'okay, the next one I can brake here or there,' it's too late; the track has changed, tyres have degraded, you have less fuel in the car, whatever.

"The good driver just has this sense that the