Story courtesy of PlanetF1.com.
(http://www.planet-f1.com/news/3213/6245 ... ar-the-air)
After the latest chapter in the saga of Alonso and Hamilton, taking place at European GP in Valencia, the bitter rivalry between the two drivers seemed to have once again reared its ugly head.
After the anguish of McLaren, caused by the animosity of the two drivers in 2007, there seemed to have been little more to stay on the matter, until the rekindling of the row due to the Safety Car procedures in Valencia, stoking the fire that is clearly still light in both of the drivers bellies.
As most fans are aware, Alonso came out immediately in the press after the race questioning both Hamilton's, and the FIAs racing integrity. With a quick retort coming Lewis's lips a short time after.
"I saw him overtaken by a Sauber. He must have been completely in another world."
Hamilton added: "It's very unlike him to be overtaken by a Sauber."
As well as labelling the Alonso outburst as a case of "sour grapes".
Harsh words, that as well as rebuked the Spaniard, looked to further add fuel to flames. Damage that appears to have been minimised by Alonso and Ferraris desire to distance themselves from the comments of "race manipulation" made in the heat of the moment, immediately after the European GP.
In what looks like now, an attempt to further mend the bridges between the two, Hamilton has come out in the press stating that he has since been in contact with the 2 times WDC.
"I messaged him to see how he was doing. He said everything's cool, that he knows how the racing world works and this is a tough year"
Is this proof that the levels of animosity to the two has been blown out of all proportion by the media? That, although by no means the best of friends, there is a healthy measure of respect between the two world beating drivers? Or is this simply an effort to repair the images of both drivers by their respective PR departments?
One thing that is for sure, that although a healthy rivalry tends to benefit two competitors, and act to bring the best out of them, relationships such as the one 'enjoyed' between Hamilton and Alonso can rarely been seen to be beneficial. In fact, the most recent iteration between the two has lead to Alonso being accused of 'letting Hamilton into his head'.
Surely a cessation of hostilities between the two would be in the interest for fans of both camps, however, one can only think that it is not such a simple matter to plaster a crack that has grown and widened since Hamilton's inception into the world of F1. As such the sincerity of such remarks will only be questioned at every encounter between the two in further events, with each incident having the potential to break what remains a very fragile peace.
(http://www.planet-f1.com/news/3213/6245 ... ar-the-air)
After the latest chapter in the saga of Alonso and Hamilton, taking place at European GP in Valencia, the bitter rivalry between the two drivers seemed to have once again reared its ugly head.
After the anguish of McLaren, caused by the animosity of the two drivers in 2007, there seemed to have been little more to stay on the matter, until the rekindling of the row due to the Safety Car procedures in Valencia, stoking the fire that is clearly still light in both of the drivers bellies.
As most fans are aware, Alonso came out immediately in the press after the race questioning both Hamilton's, and the FIAs racing integrity. With a quick retort coming Lewis's lips a short time after.
"I saw him overtaken by a Sauber. He must have been completely in another world."
Hamilton added: "It's very unlike him to be overtaken by a Sauber."
As well as labelling the Alonso outburst as a case of "sour grapes".
Harsh words, that as well as rebuked the Spaniard, looked to further add fuel to flames. Damage that appears to have been minimised by Alonso and Ferraris desire to distance themselves from the comments of "race manipulation" made in the heat of the moment, immediately after the European GP.
In what looks like now, an attempt to further mend the bridges between the two, Hamilton has come out in the press stating that he has since been in contact with the 2 times WDC.
"I messaged him to see how he was doing. He said everything's cool, that he knows how the racing world works and this is a tough year"
Is this proof that the levels of animosity to the two has been blown out of all proportion by the media? That, although by no means the best of friends, there is a healthy measure of respect between the two world beating drivers? Or is this simply an effort to repair the images of both drivers by their respective PR departments?
One thing that is for sure, that although a healthy rivalry tends to benefit two competitors, and act to bring the best out of them, relationships such as the one 'enjoyed' between Hamilton and Alonso can rarely been seen to be beneficial. In fact, the most recent iteration between the two has lead to Alonso being accused of 'letting Hamilton into his head'.
Surely a cessation of hostilities between the two would be in the interest for fans of both camps, however, one can only think that it is not such a simple matter to plaster a crack that has grown and widened since Hamilton's inception into the world of F1. As such the sincerity of such remarks will only be questioned at every encounter between the two in further events, with each incident having the potential to break what remains a very fragile peace.