Fernando Alonso’s verdict on Lewis Hamilton’s crash with Max Verstappen at Italian GP

Fernando Alonso defended both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen following their collision at the Italian Grand Prix. The Brit had just exited the pit lane when his title rival came haring down the main straight at Monza and attempted an overtake, and seconds later the cars made contact before Verstappen’s Red Bull lifted up off a kerb and landed on his title rival’s Mercedes.

Mercifully, Hamilton avoided potentially fatal injuries as his protective halo prevented the Red Bull crashing into his head.

The pair disagreed on who was responsible for the incident but it was Verstappen, 23, deemed at fault by race stewards.

As a result, the Dutchman has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the next Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia, a week on Sunday.

It wasn’t the first time the two have clashed on the track this season, also colliding during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July as Verstappen was forced off the track and into the wall, but despite a 10-second penalty Hamilton recovered to win the race.

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However, speaking to reporters before Verstappen was penalised by race officials, Alonso said the incident was a natural consequence of two competitive drivers racing each other.

“Well, they are there, both champions, and they are always fighting to the limit,” said two-time world champion said.

“To be honest, it seems an unfortunate position and corner and curb. The car jumps a little bit, and then they touch tire with tire, and the rubber makes one car fly over the other. But it’s low speed, they are at 30 or 40kph, there is no danger.

The Spaniard, 40, added he felt both drivers did what was neccesary as they battled it out for glory at Monza/

“I think Lewis tried to run wide in turn one to force Max to maybe cut the corner.

“Max doesn’t cut the corner, stays on the outside, but then there is no possibility to make the corner on the inside for turn two.

“I think they both did what they should do.”

Indeed, despite the dramatic consequences of the collision, the Alpine driver said it differed little from other incidents in the race.

“Unfortunately, they touched each other. I saw the replay of the start as well, and (Antonio) Giovinazzi and (Charles) Leclerc, they touched in the same way. (Lance) Stroll and (Sergio) Perez, they touched at the start in the same way in turn one and two.

“But they didn’t touch wheel to wheel, rubber to rubber, tire to tire. So there is not the same outcome. But this is a very typical manoeuvre, and they have been unlucky that they touch tire with tire.

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