Fernando Alonso has apologised to Lewis Hamilton after his angry comments in the wake of the collision involving both drivers at the Belgian Grand Prix.
They made contact on the first lap, as Hamilton attempted to overtake his former McLaren team-mate on the outside at Les Combes. And it was the Brit who came off worse despite being the one at fault, as his race was over due to damage on his Mercedes.
Alonso was able to continue, but that didn't stop him from a furious outburst over the radio. He branded the Brit as an "idiot" and went on to add: "This guy only knows how to drive and start in first."
Hamilton admitted fault for causing the crash but didn't seem impressed when told about Alonso's reaction. And there was plenty more reaction from people, including Martin Brundle, who felt the Spaniard had been over-the-top with his response to the collision.
Asked about it ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Alonso told reporters he felt the backlash had been "made into a huge thing". He said: "First of all, it's Lewis, he's a champion, he's a legend of our time.
"And then when you say something, and I'm sorry to repeat this, against a British driver, there is a huge media involvement after that. They've been saying a lot of things to Checo, to Carlos, to me. If you say something to a Latin driver, everything is a little bit more fun. When you say something to others, it's a little bit more serious.
"But anyway, yes I apologise. I'm not thinking what I said, I don't think that it was much to blame in that moment looking at the replays to be honest, because it was a first-lap incident and we are close together. In the heat of the moment, the adrenaline of the moment, fighting finally for the top two, top three made me say those comments that I should not say.
"At the same time I said after the race that it was a racing incident in my opinion. When you say something on the radio, in that moment you think you are talking to your engineer, so you are preparing the strategy, you start in the top three, you overtake Checo in the first corner and running second. And then something happens and you say something to your mate, to your colleague, to your engineer in that moment.
"Obviously you should be aware that it should be broadcasted. But it's like if someone makes a hard tackle or something in football. In that moment you say something to your teammate or whatever, and in that moment it's not broadcasted. Before the race or after the race, I said what I was thinking. On the radio, I said something that I was not... I don't think that way."
Alonso went on to add that he planned to speak to Hamilton in person to clear the air, and to apologise in person. He added: "I have absolutely no problems with him and I have huge respect for him."
