Fernando Alonso has apologised for the comment he made about Lewis Hamilton in the moments following their Spa clash.

"What an idiot!" shouted the Spaniard over his radio after being hit by the Mercedes driver as they entered Les Combes on the first lap. "Closing the door from the outside. We had a great start, but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first."

In the midst of the incident, which saw Hamilton's car thrown into the air after their wheels touched, the Spaniard gesticulated at his rival for good measure.

Though he took full blame for the clash, saying that Alonso had been in his blind spot, Hamilton refused to become embroiled in a war of words with the two-time world champion.

"I don't really have a response to it," the Briton told reporters when advised of Alonso's comment. "I know that's how things feel in the heat the moment.

"It's nice to know how he feels about me in a way," he added, "better that it's out in the open, how he feels.

"Like I said, it wasn't intentional and I take responsibility for it. That's what adults do."

Asked if he would apologise personally to Alonso, Hamilton said: "I would have until I heard what he said."

Though admitting regret at his initial reaction to the incident, Alonso hit out at the media for its involvement.

"It made a huge thing," said Alonso at today's press conference at Zandvoort. "First of all it's Lewis, he's a champion, he's a legend of our time.

"But 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."

Referring to his claim about Hamilton only knowing "how to drive and start in first", the Spaniard added: "No, I don't believe that. It's not that I believe or don't believe, there are facts that it is not that way.

"It is something that you say in the heat of the moment, but nothing that I said is true and there are facts that are completely the opposite. So I have huge respect.

"I don't think that it was much to blame in that moment looking at the replays to be honest," he said of the incident, "because it was a first-lap incident and we are close together. 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."

Asked if he has apologised to his former teammate, he said: "No, not yet but I will hopefully see him today. When we are doing the TV pen I will approach him and say sorry if he understood in that way. I have absolutely no problems with him and I have huge respect for him."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by MadMalc114, 02/09/2022 16:50

"We have watched races, where Lewis has started from the back yet, ended up winning, but I must admit it was a very quick and funny statement, which in Alonso's mind just goes to show why he deserves to be in Formula One, after all, I still think Alonso has got what it takes to win another World Champoinship, but he needs the car to back that up, they both have had problems from way back so things are said in the heat of the moment, which as he has stated he really does not believe what he said."

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2. Posted by Tardis40, 02/09/2022 16:25

"Why?"

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3. Posted by Carsten B, 02/09/2022 8:17

"Now that the dust has settled, both drivers has apologized for the driving (HAM) and comments in the heat of the moment (ALO). Both drivers has their reputation intact, seen from my pov. Everybody has behaved like adults. The press got their headlines. Let's move on."

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4. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 01/09/2022 19:02

"A very sensible, grown-up response from Alonso. He goes up in my estimation, passing Norris, who is on a downward trajectory.

It’s hard to think of a world champion who had a faultless career. Even the very best have made stupid driving errors, at times. Think of Senna at Monaco in 1988, for example.

Hamilton is clearly a very polarising character and the comments that appear beneath such articles are very illuminating."

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5. Posted by Mad Matt, 01/09/2022 18:22

"So, they had a minor crash, the one at fault apologised, the other said something fairly mild in the heat of the moment and has even apologised for that.... what's the story here?"

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6. Posted by Rock Doc, 01/09/2022 14:54

"Alonso shows a lot of integrity here. Stuff said in the car is always said with passion. But out of the car it is different.

He is right though, this was blown way out of proportion by the media looking for a story. I haven't always agreed with Alonso but he has really changed since coming back. I'm glad he will be on the grid for a couple more years."

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7. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 01/09/2022 14:46

"A lot to answer for adrenaline!"

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8. Posted by kenji, 01/09/2022 14:12

"That incident reminded me of Grosjean....a first lap nutcase.. Silverstone anyone! I think someone has had a chat with FA and the fact that his new employer will be using a cartain engine that sports a three pointed star. Nothing is ever simple."

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9. Posted by Simon in Adelaide, 01/09/2022 13:52

"I don’t think he has anything to apologise for."

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Alonso apologises for Hamilton comment

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