Ex-Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle says he disagrees with Fernando Alonso’s criticism of Lewis Hamilton following their crash at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The duo collided on the opening lap of the race, with Hamilton forced to retire as a result.
The seven-time World Champion accepted blame for the incident, but was criticised over team radio by Alonso.
The Alpine driver claimed that Hamilton “only knows how to drive and start in first”.
Writing in his post-weekend column for Sky Sports, Brundle hit back at the comments, believing that Hamilton is one of the cleanest racers in F1 history.
“Lewis said he couldn’t see Fernando in his blind spot but frankly he was bound to be there somewhere, and the Spaniard tried his best to stay to the inside and give space,” he said.
“Lewis saw the footage and immediately put his hand up and correctly accepted full responsibility.
“Fernando’s radio comments, albeit fuelled by anger and adrenaline, about Lewis only being able to win from the front were in my opinion wholly inaccurate and unfair.
“Lewis is one of the fairest and cleanest drivers in the history of F1, he hasn’t needed to resort to too many professional fouls given his relentless speed, and just cast your mind back to Brazil last year to remember how he can scythe through the field. Twice.
“That error of judgement will have caught Lewis’s attention.”
Alonso went on to take fifth place at the end of the race, benefitting from a penalty for Charles Leclerc, who was found guilty of speeding in the pit lane.
Leclerc’s penalty capped off a difficult race weekend for Ferrari, in which one again they came under criticism for strategy calls.
“Ferrari claim they need to change nothing on the pit wall calls but if you keep doing the same thing don’t be surprised when you get the same result,” Brundle said.
“Fully respecting that we only hear selected radio calls on the TV, but the Ferrari team appears to want Leclerc to make the final decisions on tyres when he doesn’t have the full set of data because he’s rather busy driving.
“He can’t possibly make the final call on the hard compound tyre without knowing who’s already using them, if anybody, and how they are performing.
“Leclerc is now third in the championship and 98 points behind, with eight races to go. All things being equal, I think we all know which way this championship is heading.”
Of course he does. Brundle is Hamilton’s number on ticket holder, with Croft in second.
Another Brit twit Hamilton apologist who you would think was a 10 time F1 world champion by the way he talks, but after 11 years in F1 not one pole, podium or win. He and his blowhard partner Crofty just can’t get enough of Hamilton. One must wonder what they will do when he retires? Until then, Yes masta Lulu, gulp gulp gulp!
Alonso did make a half apology for his comments today and said that all drivers say things in the heat of the moment that they would not say with further consideration.
Hamilton has Brundle in his pocket, and Brundle like Hill is part of the SKY worship Hamilton brigade and both imo a pair of overrated have been twits.
Alonso is right and imo Hamilton should have been reprimanded and faced a penalty for his incompetent driving in the next race. However, it seems that MB to an extent now owns the FIA…..
I like Brundle, and he is right about most things, but he has a blind spot where Hamilton is concerned, specifically relating to delivering the negative criticism which is deserved for the way Hamilton drives on a regulat basis, which is dirty and dangerous, intentionally forcing opponents off the track and clearly aiming to injure, at least, close rivals with at best no concern if it goes beyond injury.