Not the return to the grid Hamilton would’ve hoped for
Lewis Hamilton’s disastrous Formula One season continued as he crashed out of the first lap of Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The race was the first since the return from the mid-season break and both Hamilton and Mercedes were desperate to start off on a positive note after an underwhelming first half of the year.
Hamilton started the race fourth on the grid and collided with Fernando Alonso at turn five at Spa-Francorchamps, causing his car to fly up into the air before being forced off the track.
DRAMA ON THE OPENING LAP!
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso come together on the opening lap! 😮 pic.twitter.com/8GQp94gZ7h
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 28, 2022
Alonso was left angered by his former teammate’s actions and believed that he had tried to cut across him. Shouting on the radio, he said: “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!”
"This guy only knows how to drive and start in first" 📻
Fernando Alonso was NOT happy with Lewis Hamilton as they collide on the opening lap 😡 pic.twitter.com/D2GgCXrBHI
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 28, 2022
Race officials had looked at the crash but decided there was no reason to investigate any further.
The seven-time world champion had initially continued driving before being informed by the Mercedes garage that they were retiring the car. This is the first time that Hamilton won’t have completed a race this season.
Hamilton’s former Mercedes partner, Valterri Bottas, was also forced to retire after his Alfa Romeo collided with Nicholas Latifi, meaning a safety car had to be deployed.
Bottas is OUT! 😮
The safety car is deployed as Latifi tags Bottas and both cars run off the track. pic.twitter.com/Rb6BPC8ZPZ
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 28, 2022
Carlos Sainz started the race in pole position with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez completing the front row of the grid. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen and this Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc both started at the back of grid due to after they both took penalties for making changes to the engines on their respective cars.
Verstappen however has managed to climb up the grid and now finds himself currently leading in Spa.
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