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Hamilton shares motivation behind cheeky joke on Alonso
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton explained his playful jab at Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard’s angry outburst during the Singapore Grand Prix over Hamilton’s driving with failing brakes.
Hamilton humorously referenced an iconic TV character, Victor Meldrew, whose catchphrase is “I don’t believe it!” from the show ‘One Foot in the Grave,’ in response to Alonso’s frustration.
Hamilton clarified during the following United States GP weekend that the exchange with Alonso was light-hearted banter and a nod to a 90s show he found amusing.
The rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso dates back to the 2007 season when they were McLaren teammates and fierce competitors, with Alonso joining the team as a two-time world champion expecting to be the lead driver.
Their internal battle was overshadowed by the Spygate scandal, where McLaren was involved in a controversy over leaked information, leading to their disqualification from the constructors’ championship that year.
