Sir Lewis Hamilton pointed out that his career has been more successful than that of Fernando Alonso after hearing of the Spaniard’s outburst during the Belgian Grand Prix.
Alonso started third in Spa ahead of Hamilton, who cleared the Alpine driver at the start of the race.
The Spaniard then slipstreamed the seven-time champion heading down to Les Combes, and he found himself on the inside as they started to converge on the apex.
In the end, they made contact, sending Hamilton’s Mercedes high up into the air, and it came back down with quite some force, causing extensive damage.
READ: Fernando Alonso silenced as his claim about Lewis Hamilton proven incorrect
The Briton was forced to retire at the end of the lap, while Alonso went on to finish fifth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Before that though, the 41-year-old drove past Hamilton as he was stood by his stricken car and wagged his finger at him, after delivering a strongly worded radio message.
“Yeah, what an idiot,” said Alonso.
“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 took responsibility for the incident, in the media pen, and revealed that he would have gone to speak to his former team-mate, but for Alonso’s comment.
He then took a subtle dig at the double world champion in another interview.
“I prefer not to comment about that,” said Hamilton.
“We had different results in our careers, this is the kind of thing you say in the heat of the moment.”
Hamilton is referring to the drivers’ respective career trajectories since their McLaren partnership in 2007, when they won four races between them.
They endured a strained relationship that year, and Alonso fell out with team principal Ron Dennis, who eventually showed him the door.
Hamilton has won 99 races in the 14 seasons since, while Alonso has 13 to his tally with Ferrari.
READ: Lewis Hamilton insists he won’t speak to Fernando Alonso following insult
The 37-year-old signed with Mercedes in 2013, winning six world titles with them having claimed his maiden championship with McLaren in 2008.
Alonso, meanwhile, returned to McLaren after his relationship with Ferrari broke down in 2014, but they went through a rough period with Honda, before the Spaniard left the pinnacle of motorsport in 2018 following one season of Renault power in the back of the car.
He returned to the sport last year with Alpine, and recorded his 98th career podium in Qatar.