Lewis Hamilton said it was “nice to know how he feels about me” after being criticized by Fernando Alonso over a first-lap crash between the two. Alonso called his teammate Hamilton an “idiot” who “only knows how to drive and start first [place]”. The comments were heard on Alonso’s Alpine team radio after their clash during Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who accepted responsibility, said he would have spoken to Alonso about the incident “until I heard what he said”. The Briton said: “I know that’s how things feel in the heat of the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me.” The two were challenging for second place at the time and the incident saw Hamilton retire after less than a lap and saw Spaniard Alonso drop to fourth after moving up from third to second at the start. However, Hamilton said the incident was “definitely my fault”, adding: “I just didn’t leave enough space. It wasn’t intentional. It just happened.” His Mercedes went up on two wheels and Hamilton said he “almost broke my back going down”. He added: “I remember just looking at the ground and knowing I was pretty high. Definitely high. I’m thankful to be alive and fit.” Hamilton and Alonso collided on the first lap of the race Hamilton and Alonso have a long and sometimes bitter history, sharing a decade and a half of heated feuds, while also expressing the highest respect for each other’s ability on the track. The two were team-mates at McLaren in 2007, Hamilton’s first season in F1, and finished level on four wins each. Hamilton moved ahead in the championship, one point behind winner Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari, with the results counting down. The intensity of their battle nearly destroyed McLaren and Alonso fell out with the team, leaving at the end of the first season of a three-year contract. But Hamilton has regularly described Alonso as the most talented and fastest driver he has ever raced against, and Alonso has also always been complimentary of his rival’s talents. Relations between the two appeared to have become more cordial in recent years, but the Spa incident and its aftermath mark another low point for the pair. Asked about his post-race radio message, Alonso did not retract his criticism, which is doubtful considering the number of times Hamilton has won from low on the grid. These include winning the 2018 German Grand Prix from 14th place and the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix despite being sent back for the sprint race in which he finished fifth, then starting the race 10th after a second penalty . Alonso said: “Very disappointed. When I get off to a good start, I keep going [the] first or second series, all this happens and I was definitely disappointed at the time. He accepted his mistake and is welcome. “For me, it was a bit wrong to close the door like that in turn five. “I think he thought I wasn’t there anymore. It’s wrong. It’s just the heat of the moment. You try to use the slipstream, you brake slowly, you turn and sometimes you don’t count the cars [right], where everyone is. But I don’t know, I’m usually more careful.” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said:[Lewis] it just didn’t leave room for him inside. Fernando was already on the curb and couldn’t do much more. “Sorry for the incident from the team’s side, it rarely happens to Lewis.” Alonso also criticized Ferrari, for whom he drove from 2010 to 2014 before leaving after negotiating an early release from his contract after losing faith in their ability to deliver a third title. Ferrari pipped Charles Leclerc with two laps to go to win the point for fastest lap, but put the Monegasque behind Alonso. Leclerc, who had to repass Alonso on the final lap in which he was trying to beat the time set by race winner and title rival Max Verstappen, failed to do so and was also given a pit lane speeding penalty which demoted him in sixth – one place behind Alonso – in the final results. Alonso, who missed out on the 2010 title after Ferrari made a major strategic mistake with him in the deciding race in Abu Dhabi, referred to a series of mistakes by the team this year when asked after the race if he was surprised by their decision. . “Not so much,” he said. “Ferrari did strange things and this was another strange thing.”
