Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he has cleared the air with Fernando Alonso following the Spaniard's outburst after the European Grand Prix.

In the wake of the Valencia event, Alonso and his team launched an astonishing attack on Hamilton, McLaren and the FIA, claiming that the result of the race had been manipulated when the stewards appeared to take an inordinate amount of time before punishing the Englishman for overtaking the safety car. When the McLaren driver did subsequently serve his penalty - a drive through - he rejoined the race still in second, sending Alonso and his team apoplectic.

Last week, when asked about Alonso's reaction, Hamilton talked of "sour grapes", but now, ahead of his home race, the Englishman has revealed that the duo have cleared the air.

"We messaged the other day, things are cool," he told reporters. "I just messaged him to see how he was doing and he said everything's cool and he knows how the racing world works and this is a tough year."

The news about the two texting one another to make peace will be seen as somewhat ironic in some corners of the paddock and press room, particularly among those aware of the content of certain texts (in Spanish) discovered on a mobile phone in the McLaren brand centre in Turkey 2007.