Alonso snubbed famous foe Sir Lewis Hamilton, with whom he had such an intense feud when they were team-mates at McLaren for one season in 2007 that he quit the team.

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The Aston Martin driver has instead opted for Schumacher, whom he beat to the top in 2005 and 2006 to win both of his world titles.

The 41-year-old admits it is “difficult” to choose his fiercest ever opponent but the Ferrari legend’s dominance in the mid-2000s ranks him above everyone else.

Alonso told Bang & Olufsen: “It is difficult to choose one because they were all great rivals and very talented drivers as well.

“When I came to this sport, Michael Schumacher was dominating the races and everything, probably that fight with him would still be the one I would choose.

“Fighting against Michael was very special, so I would say that.”

Alonso and Hamilton rekindled their rivalry last year after the crashed at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Spaniard put the seven-time world champion on full-blast as he branded him “an idiot”.

The ex-Renault star also claimed the British great “only knows how to drive and start in first” in a petulant attack.

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But the Mercedes superstar cooled their rift by insisting he is trying to “be a better driver”.

The 38-year-old then joked on social media that he’d offer Alonso a signed cap as a peace offering.

Hamilton said: “It’s not a thing for me. It doesn’t change anything, it doesn’t really affect me in the slightest.

“With the cap it was just a little fun thing. It’s good to have fun sometimes with these things. For me, I am always trying to be a better driver.

“Also, I know there are a lot of young kids that are following me and it’s important the steps I try to take in my behaviour, so I am always trying to learn and be better.”