Lewis Hamilton’s first lap crash with old rival Fernando Alonso has been the major talking point from this season’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The crash at Les Combes, which forced Hamilton to retire his car for the first time this season, induced Alonso to go on a radio rant at his former teammate.
The Spanish racing legend exclaimed: “What an idiot closing the door from the outside. We had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”
The angry reaction by Alonso has received widespread attention and has not been received well by Hamilton, who, when asked if he would speak to Alonso, explained: “No. I would have until I heard what he 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.”
However, it has since been revealed by Crash that Hamilton had plenty more to say about Alonso that was not picked up by Sky Sports, with the Brit making a dig at his former teammate-turned-rival’s racing career in an interview with Brazilian TV.
When asked about Alonso calling him an “idiot”, Hamilton responded: “I prefer not to comment about that. We had different results in our careers. This is the kind of thing you say in the heat of the moment.”
SPA, BELGIUM - AUGUST 25: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes talks in the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 25, 2022 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
While not quite as direct and harsh as Alonso’s heated comments on Hamilton’s racing, the Brit's response of “different results in our careers” is the ultimate comeback by the Mercedes driver.
Despite Alonso having won the Drivers’ World Championship twice in 2005 and 2006, an impressive feat, Hamilton’s record of seven Drivers’ World Championship titles dwarfs that of the Spaniard's and in Hamilton’s view speaks for itself in how he receives such harsh criticism from fellow drivers such as Alonso.
However, the Alpine driver has since partly rescinded the nature of his comments by explaining that they came out of a moment of frustration on what is a “tricky corner.”
The veteran driver went on to secure a season-best fifth place, behind Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz and George Russell.
Meanwhile, Hamilton claims that he will go back to the drawing board and work hard to get his season back on track, and hopefully try to close the gap on Ferrari and Red Bull.