Lewis Hamilton admits he was at fault for crash and is ‘grateful to be alive’

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was at fault after he crashed out of the Belgium Grand Prix having hit Fernando Alonso. The British driver said however he was grateful to be alive after the crash had launched his car into the air and the damage forced him to retire from the race.

Alonso called him an idiot for the incident to which the seven-time champion responded by saying he he would refuse to talk to the Spaniard. Hamilton and Alonso had both started well in the race, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, but Hamilton went to make a pass at Les Combes and the pair clashed.

It was deemed a racing incident but Alonso launched an attack over the radio. “What an idiot closing the door from the outside,” he said. “We had a mega start but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”

Afterwards Hamilton held his hands up. “Looking back he was in my blind spot, I didn’t give him enough space. It is my fault,” he said. “I could not see him. I am sorry to the team and I need to recuperate and get back on the treadmill.”

When informed of Alonso’s comments and asked if he would speak to him, Hamilton’s response was blunt. “No. I would have until I heard what he said,” he said. “I know that’s how things feel in the heat of the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me.”

The incident ultimately ended Hamilton’s race although Alonso went on to take fifth place but Hamilton was happy to have walked away from a heavy impact when his car landed. “I remember looking at the ground, it was definitely high up. I’m grateful to be still alive and in shape,” he said.