In the 14th race of 2022, Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton retired for the first time this season. The Brit collided with Fernando Alonso and retired – following that there was a lot of mail from the world autosport association FIA.
In the first round of the Belgian Grand Prix, there was a royal duel: the seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton attacked the two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso from the outside at Les Combes. The Spaniard held back, the Briton’s silver arrow was thrown through the air. Alonso was able to continue and was fifth in the end, Hamilton’s series of five consecutive podium finishes did not continue.
Fernando Alonso described his former McLaren stable opponent Hamilton on the radio as “an idiot who only knows how to drive when he is in the lead”.
In the evening there was a lot of mail from the world autosport association FIA: The 103-time GP winner Hamilton received a warning from the race commissioners Tim Mayer (USA), Matteo Perini (Italy), the former Formula 1 driver Enrique Bernoldi (Brazil) and Yves Bacquelaine (Belgium). What happened?
The hits on Hamilton’s Silver Arrow were hard enough to trigger the collision sensors in the race car. Hamilton: “It felt like my back was broken.”
If the sensors sound the alarm, this means that a driver has to make an appointment at the medical center. But the Briton did not appear there at first. Only when the FIA knocked on Mercedes once more and threatened a penalty did Hamilton change his mind.
The race police ruled: Warning for Lewis Hamilton. What is a yellow card in football is not a trivial offense in racing – with a total of three warnings, two of them on the track, the drivers are given a drop of ten starting places in the following race.
The race stewards write in their verdict: In another case of this kind, a harder sentence is to be expected.
And what regarding the title Idiot? Hamilton immediately apologized following the failure, saying the collision was his fault and he mightn’t see Alonso in the blind spot. In his media round later that evening, the four-time Belgian GP winner added: “I actually wanted to apologize to Fernando but following hearing what he said regarding me I changed my mind. I know there are certain things that people say in the heat of battle. But it’s nice to know what he thinks of me.”
Running, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 44 Runden in 1:25:55,608 h
02. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +17.841sec
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +26,886
04. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +29,140
05. Fernando Alonso (L), Alpine, +73,256
06. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +74,936
07. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +75,640
08. Sebastian Vettel (D), Aston Martin, +78,107
09. Pierre Gasly (F), AlphaTauri, +92,181
10. Alexander Albon (T), Williams, +101,900
11. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +103,078
12. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +104.739
13. Yuki Tsunoda (J), AlphaTauri, +105,217
14. Guanyu Zhou (RC), Alfa Romeo, +106,252
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), McLaren, +107,163
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Round
17. Mick Schumacher (D), Haas, +1 lap
18. Nicholas Latifi (CDN), Williams, +1 Runde
Out
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo, Dreher
Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, collision damage
Championship status (following 14 of 22 races)
driver
01. Verstappen 284 points
02. Pérez 191
03. Leclerc 186
04. Sainz 171
05. Russell 170
06. Hamilton 146
07. Norris 76
08. Ocon 64
09. Alonso 51
10. Bottas 46
11. Magnussen 22
12. Vettel 20
13. Ricciardo 19
14. Gasly 18
15. Schumacher 12
16. Tsunoda 11
17. Zhou 5
18. Albon 4
19. Stroll 4
20. Latif 0
21. Nico Hülkenberg (D) 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 475 Punkte
02. Ferrari 357
03. Mercedes 316
04. Alpine 115
05. McLaren 95
06. Alfa Romeo 51
07. Haas 34
08. AlphaTauri 29
09. Aston Martin 24
10. Williams 4
