Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen incident 'not a big thing' - Fernando Alonso

Verstappen and Hamilton after the crash at Monza — Photo: © LAT Images

Italian Grand Prix

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Hamilton Verstappen incident 'not a big thing' - Alonso

Two-time champion felt it was a racing incident

Ian Parkes

Wednesday 15 September 2021 15:20

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Fernando Alonso has suggested the latest crash involving Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen was 'not a big thing' given the circumstances of the incident.

The controversial collision resulted in Red Bull driver Verstappen being handed a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Russia for being "predominantly to blame", according to the Italian Grand Prix stewards.

The nature of the accident, as Verstappen's car had launched into the air off a sausage kerb at the first chicane before landing on top of Hamilton's Mercedes, led to the seven-time champion hailing the halo for saving his life.

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After viewing the incident before speaking, and ahead of the penalty announcement, Alpine driver Alonso said: "They are both champions and they are always fighting to the limit.

"It seems an unfortunate position and corner and kerb. The car [Verstappen] jumps a little bit, they touch tyres and the rubber makes one car fly.

"But it's low speed, they are at 30 to 40kph, there is no danger, there is no nothing."

Referencing Verstappen's 150mph smash on lap one of the British Grand Prix after a collision with Hamilton, Alonso added: "I don't think it [the Monza crash] was a big thing - Silverstone, probably, yes, but this was a racing incident.

"Lewis tried to run wide in turn one to maybe force Max to cut the corner. Max doesn't cut the corner, stays on the outside, and then there's no corner possible to make on the inside for turn two.

"I think they both did what they should do. Unfortunately, they touch each other."

Incident one of many at Monza chicanes - Alonso

Alonso feels that what unfolded was no worse than a number of other attempted overtakes through Monza's chicanes.

"I saw the replay of the start as well and [Antonio] Giovinazzi and [Charles] Leclerc touch in the same way," added Alonso.

"[Lance] Stroll and [Sergio] Perez they touch at the start in the same way through [turns] one and two, but they didn't touch wheel to wheel, rubber to rubber, so there is not the same outcome.

"This is a very typical manoeuvre, turn one and turn two, and they were unlucky they touched tyre with tyre."