“I don't think there was a particular dispute between us. We've greeted each other when we've met each other at the track - we've always respected each other.”
“It was great to see him in the garage. He came over as I saw my team, I turned round and he was there - just to wish me congratulations. Then he said congratulations to the rest of the team. I had a huge amount of respect for him already, but it took a big man to come and do that so I was very thankful to him,” admitted Hamilton during the Mercedes-Benz's Stars & Cars event in Stuttgart.
Alonso himself insisted a few weeks ago, when asked about who would he rather see world champion at the end of the year, that his bad relationship is not with Hamilton but with the McLaren team. He argued that Ron Dennis' outfit didn't treat him with the necessary amount of respect throughout 2007, when his world champion experience played a good role in lifting McLaren to the top of the standings.
Due to the conflictual situation arisen between the two after the 2007 season, Spanish fans have made it difficult for Hamilton ever since. The first incident took place during a Barcelona test last winter, when a group of fans wore black tie-shirts and painted their faces in dark colors, shouting and screaming during the entire testing session.
Also, shortly before the Brazilian Grand Prix this year, a Spanish site – pinchalaruedadehamilton.com – welcomed all anti-Hamilton F1 fans to pick a place on the Interlagos track where they would want the Brit to suffer a tire blow. FIA and McLaren issued quick statements condemning the incidents.
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