Posted in: 29/08/2022 – 18:34Last updated: 29/08/2022 – 18:30
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) (AFP) – After the war of words that erupted as a result of the accident that brought them together at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Briton Lewis Hamilton and Spaniard Fernando Alonso decided to tone down their words, as the first apologized for the mistake he made, and the second blamed what he said on anger and frustration, expressing He regretted broadcasting what he told his team.
Mercedes driver Hamilton, the seven-times world champion, withdrew from the first lap of the 14th stage of the Formula One World Championship, following a collision with Alonso (Albin) in their fight for second place.
The Mercedes driver started from fourth place and entered a struggle with Alonso, but he closed the track on his rival before the front tire of the Alpine car hit the rear tire of Hamilton’s car.
Alonso, who continued his adventure to finish fifth with his team, spoke on the radio, expressing his anger at Hamilton’s movement, saying, “What a fool, to close the track like this from the outside… We had a great start, but this guy only knows how to drive.” Starting from the first place.”
After ‘Sir’ Hamilton admitted his mistake, telling Sky: “He was in an area I mightn’t see. I didn’t give him enough space. It’s my fault,” he mocked his former McLaren team-mate’s comment by saying: “It’s nice.”
“I know how he can feel in the midst of this moment, but it’s also good to know how he feels regarding me,” he added.
He added that he did not intend to speak with Alonso because “I was going to do so until I heard what he said.”
However, Hamilton’s position changed a few hours following the end of the race, Sunday evening, as he wrote on his Instagram page, “First, I want to apologize to my fans, especially those who came to support me,” adding, “After nearly 30 years as a driver, the feeling of making a mistake is as painful as Mistake #1. My team, which is working hard, deserves better.”
In turn, Alonso sought to calm things down, admitting, “I was angry,” expressing his regret for publicly broadcasting the conversation that took place between him and his team on the radio.
“It is a shame sometimes that everything is broadcast, because if it is broadcast, what you say (at the time) becomes how you act for the media,” added the two-time world champion in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.
“Usually when you talk on the radio it’s just for your team,” he added, “I was frustrated at that point, that’s for sure.”
The tense relationship between veterans Hamilton (37) and Alonso (41) dates back to their time with McLaren in 2007 and the conflict that erupted between them, which prompted the Spaniard to break his contract, which extended for three years at the time, to leave one year following joining the British fold.
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