SIR LEWIS HAMILTON was forced to retire in the first round of the Belgian Grand Prix after a dramatic crash in the opening lap of the race – which was won by Max Verstappen.
The Stevenage speedster went over the top of Fernando Alonso after colliding with the Apline ace in the second corner of the Spa race.
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Hamilton soared through the air but miraculously didn’t harm the Spaniard and was able to continue driving – albeit not very well.
After the collision, Mercedes chiefs told the Brit: “Stop, stop, stop!”
The seven-time champion begrudgingly listened to their advice, bringing his race to a premature end.
A furious Alonso raged on the Apline team radio: “Yeah. What an idiot!
“Closing the door from the outside. I mean, we had a mega start.
“But this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”
Hamilton admitted the crash was his fault, saying: “Looking back he was in my blind spot, I didn’t give him enough space.
“It is my fault. “I could not see him. I am sorry to the team and I need to recover and get back on the treadmill.”
F1 fans were quick to react to the dramatic opening lap, with one saying: “All on Lewis there, anyway who says otherwise doesn’t watch F1.”
Another said: “Lu lu can only drive at the front with a fast car.”
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And another said: “As Fernando, said he only knows how to drive from 1st in the fastest car, complete fraud.”
One remarked: “Alonso just turned on him.”
Another chimed in: “How’s that happened then?”
Hamilton, 37, received a warning from race officials after skipping an obligatory post-crash medical.
A statement said: “The Stewards received a report from the Race Director that driver Hamilton refused to visit the Medical Service following his crash on lap one where the Medical Warning Light threshold was exceeded.
“He only did so after the Race Director informed the team that further action could be taken if he did not.
“The Stewards issue a warning in this case, with a reminder to all drivers that stronger action may be taken in the future.”
Mercedes superstar Hamilton was confident of picking up his first win of the season ahead of this afternoon’s race.
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He said: “We’ve been improving, we’ve had this consistency of the recent races and great progress that the team is making, everyone pulling together and continuing to push.
“The car is becoming more of a racing car, which is not particularly what it was at the start of the year!
“It’s more like a normal racing car in terms of its characteristics so that’s positive.
“The last race was the best showing we’ve had so far. That for us was a huge boost, that we can close that gap.
“It’s naturally going to be tough, we’ll keep our heads down.
“The other guys are doing an amazing job but I do believe we can close the gap.”
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism