Lewis Hamilton accuses his Formula One competitor of foul play, Fernando Alonso clears the record.
Lewis Hamilton accused old rival Fernando Alonso of brake testing him during the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Aston Martin investigated by the stewards over the incident.
After the season-ending Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, Fernando Alonso responded angrily to Lewis Hamilton’s claims that he had brake tested.
Alonso finished eighth at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, good for fourth place in the drivers’ standings. However, he almost got into trouble with the stewards after they took notice of an incident involving the Aston Martin star and Hamilton, his longtime nemesis.
When they entered the hairpin at Turn 5, the Spaniard was ahead of the Mercedes driver. However, Alonso seemed to slow down as he got closer to the corner, shift to the right side of the track, and release the throttle, taking Hamilton by surprise.
Over his team radio, the British star accused the Spaniard of foul play, but Alonso managed to keep ahead of him. “Yeah he just brake tested me,” a furious Hamilton was heard saying. I had my brakes tested well in advance of the braking zone.
The stewards decided without taking any action while they investigated the possibility of being accused of driving recklessly. Over the next several races, Hamilton would overtake Alonso, despite the Spaniard’s insistence that his move was merely a strategy to maintain his lead.
“Lewis is obviously very smart, has a great understanding of the sport, and has a ton of experience, but I have more,” he stated.
Even when Hamilton passed him, Alonso managed to counterattack and gain the lead back. The seven-time world champion finished in eighth place, two places behind him in the end.
Alonso trailed Hamilton in the driver standings by one spot and 28 points, despite winning in Abu Dhabi. The renowned Spaniard, who had experienced an incredible season debut, was left dissatisfied by that.
“We made our first stop around lap sixteen, or thereabouts, and realized then that the race would be lengthy. However, the final pace was barely suitable for seventh or eighth,” the Aston Martin celebrity remarked.
“As I mentioned yesterday, the qualifying lap was excellent for the position, but the pace raised several red flags. That is what transpired today. We barely managed to defeat AlphaTauri, but that is insufficient.
“This is a true gift because I wouldn’t have believed you if you had told me before this weekend that I would place fourth in the Drivers’ Championship. I’m incredibly happy with the way I’ve driven this season; in my opinion, it’s my best and most reliable season since 2012.
“I believe I made the most out of the car this season. Every member of the Aston Martin crew has put in a ton of work. We will be in the spotlight from the beginning of 2024 onward, so we need to be prepared for that. We started this year as the underdog.”
