These two will surely have an explanation one of these next days. From the first meters of the race, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) had to give up on the first lap of the Belgian Grand Prix after a collision with the Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine), fighting for 2nd place. The season in purgatory continues for the seven-time world champion: Hamilton, 6th in the championship, still looking for a victory in 2022, therefore did not finish the first lap of the circuit at Spa-Francorchamps.
Let’s rewind what happened. The Briton, who started 4th on the grid, wanted to overtake in a Fernando Alonso corner. But he fell back a little too much on his Iberian competitor. He came to hit him and his single-seater made an impressive leap. The two drivers first continued but Hamilton then stopped, his single-seater not being able to continue.
“Stop, stop, stop! his paddock told him at the extent of the damage. In any case, the collision did not please the Alpine driver: “What an idiot!, closing the door like that from the outside… we had had a great start, but this guy only knows how to drive from first gear. square ! “, insulted the Spaniard hot in a radio communication.
The race, neutralized four laps behind the safety car also because of the abandonment of Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), hit by Nicholas Latifi (Williams), was won by the leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull). “It was definitely my fault today,” admitted Hamilton afterwards. “I didn’t leave enough space and I paid the price. It wasn’t intentional. »
Then asked about Alonso’s salty comment, Hamilton quipped: “It’s nice but I don’t really have an answer, I know what it can feel like in the heat of the moment, but it’s good. to know how he feels about me,” Hamilton continued. Does he now intend to speak to his former McLaren teammate? ” Nope. I would have done it until I heard what he said”.
The two veterans, now 37 years old for Hamilton and 41 for Alonso, double world champion in 2005 and 2006 with Renault, had a tumultuous relationship when they were teammates at McLaren in 2007. This affair will not help the relationship. . To conclude the day, after the shock, Hamilton said above all “happy to be still alive and in good shape”. Alonso did not comment further.