Fernando Alonso blasts ‘idiot’ Lewis Hamilton after first-lap collision at Spa

Lewis Hamilton was sent airborne and branded an “idiot” after first-lap contact with Fernando Alonso in Belgium.

Due to a host of power unit-related grid penalties that came into effect after qualifying, Alonso and Hamilton found themselves sharing the second row of the grid in Spa.

It was Alonso who started from P3 with Hamilton P4 on the grid.

The duo went to battle into Les Combes on the opening lap, Hamilton looking to go around the outside of his former McLaren team-mate, but a heavy whack would lift Hamilton’s Mercedes off the ground.

Hamilton initially carried on, but with his W13 clearly below full health, Mercedes told him to park the car and retire.

Alonso, who seemingly picked up no damage on his Alpine, made it clear over team radio who he thought was to blame.

The moment Lewis Hamilton collided with Fernando Alonso ?

The Mercedes driver is OUT of the Belgian GP ?#BBCF1 pic.twitter.com/DHACtSBJeF

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 28, 2022

“What an idiot closing the door from the outside,” Alonso vented. “I mean, we had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”

The incident was noted by the stewards, who would decide to take no further action.

When asked about the incident by Sky Sports F1, Hamilton accepted full responsibility.

“I’m looking back at the footage and he was in my blind spot and I didn’t leave him enough space,” said Hamilton.

“So it was my fault today, just so sorry to the team.”

Alonso’s very harsh words over the radio were then put to Hamilton, though the seven-time champ quickly shut that down, making it clear that he did not care what Alonso had said.

Hamilton would instead repeat that their collision was his fault.

“It doesn’t really matter what he said,” Hamilton stated, “like I said, it was my fault, I couldn’t see him, he was right in my blindspot.”