29/06/2010
NEWS STORY
Lewis Hamilton has dismissed Fernando Alonso's criticism of Sunday's European GP and, in particular, the punishment meted out to the McLaren driver for overtaking the safety car, as sour grapes.
Ever since Sunday's race, which saw Alonso finish eighth, following penalties handed out to other drivers who finished ahead of him on track, the Spaniard and his team have made no secret of their disgust at what happened. Indeed, referring to an incident in which a bottle was apparently thrown on to the track, the Ferrari driver said he understood the reaction of the crowd though he later admitted that it should not have happened.
As Alonso continues to fume however, Hamilton has written off the complaining as sour grapes going on to ridicule his former teammate for losing a position to Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi on the final lap.
When asked if Alonso's reaction was sour grapes, Hamilton told a group of English reporters "Yeah."
"I don't understand why I affected his race so much," he continued. "Everyone has a right to their opinions. He must just be disappointed with his own result but I didn't do anything to him."
Then, in a clear swipe at the two-time champion, the McLaren driver added: "I saw him overtaken by a Sauber. He must have been completely in another world. It's very unlike him to be overtaken by a Sauber."
Which sets us up nicely for Silverstone.