Lewis Hamilton says that he's grateful to be alive after a crash left his Mercedes bouncing up in the air during the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion said he almost broke his back during the first lap crash whilst vying for second place with his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso. Hamilton took responsibility for the crash amid allegations from Alonso that the English driver closed the door on his Alpine on the inside of Les Combes.
Hamilton's Mercedes sustained too much damage in the crash and he was forced to retire as his nightmare season continues, with his team facing all sorts of issues with their cars throughout the campaign.
