Old wounds reopened as Lewis Hamilton refuses to speak to Fernando Alonso after ‘idiot’ jibe
It was like 2007 revisited as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso exchanged barbs in the aftermath of their collision at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The pair clashed as they battled over second position during the opening lap at Spa. Hamilton was trying to overtake his old rival around the outside at Les Combes, only to touch the Alpine’s left front wheel and career into the air. Hamilton was forced to retire while Alonso carried on to finish fifth.
After the incident, Alonso fumed over his team radio, calling Hamilton an “idiot” and adding: “This guy only knows how to drive when he starts in first place.”
READ MORE: Fernando Alonso plays down Lewis Hamilton jibe but takes swipe at Ferrari strategy
Hamilton accepted responsibility for the crash, which was appreciated by Alonso, who was in more cordial mood after the race. Initially, the Mercedes driver wouldn’t be drawn on the Spaniard’s comments over radio, telling Sky Sports: “It doesn’t really matter what he said. Like I said, it was my fault.”
However, in the subsequent press conference, Hamilton did go further when pressed on Alonso’s in-race tirade.
“I don’t really have a response to it. I know that how things feel in the heat of the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me,” he said, per Autosport.
“It’s better that it’s out in the open how he feels. And like I said, it wasn’t intentional, and I take responsibility for it. That’s what adults do.”
Who was at fault for the crash? Have your say in the comments section below.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
When asked if he was going to talk to his former McLaren team-mate, he said: “No. I would have until I heard what he said.”
The pair spent a tempestuous year together as teammates 15 years ago. Alonso, as double world champion, had expected to be given number one status at McLaren above F1 rookie Hamilton.
But Hamilton, then 22, defied expectations with a dazzling debut season which should have seen him take the title, only for Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to pinch the championship ahead of the warring McLaren duo.
There were numerous spats on and off track between Hamilton and Alonso. The relationship between Alonso and the team, in particular, became so toxic that he left McLaren just one season into a three-year deal and returned to Renault.
The pair’s relationship had thawed in recent years, with the pair often declaring their respect for each other, but it appears to be back on the rocks.
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