SPORTS Monday, November 20, 2017 23 Hamilton warned Vettel Alonso turns about ‘disrespect’

rookie for test (L) with (file pic) London problems’,” said Hamilton ewis Hamilton has revealed when discussing his reaction. what he said to Sebastian “I’ve never done that to VettelL after their clash at the someone. I don’t even know Grand Prix earlier what he was thinking to have in the season. done… I’ve never been in a Vettel accused Hamilton position like that. “I guess of brake-testing him during people react differently under the Safety Car period in certain pressures.” with ToyotaManama and responded by driving up Hamilton said that the ouble world champion Fernando alongside the Mercedes and incident could have easily Alonso turned rookie for a day yesterday when he hitting his car from the side. distracted him from his Dtried out Toyota’s world endurance championship car in a Hamilton’s data showed “ultimate goal” of winning the test that could lead to a Le Mans 24 Hours entry next year. no evidence that he did force World Championship but he The 36-year-old McLaren driver completed 113 laps of a collision between the two was not prepared to let Vettel the Bahrain International Circuit in the TS050 hybrid for a rivals and Vettel was given a do that. total distance of 611km. 10-second stop/go penalty ”I think there’s different The end-of-season test came a day after Toyota won the which some thought was a little ways in which you can handle Six Hours of Bahrain race at the track. lenient. things,” added Hamilton. “It was a great day. Testing an LMP1 (Le Mans top tier) Hamilton and Vettel spoke “I knew what I was there car is always a nice thing for any racing driver because to each other about the to do and I wasn’t going to these cars are amazing to drive,” Alonso said in a Toyota incident after the race, with let anything distract me from statement. the Brit warning Vettel not to doing that. “They are very consistent throughout a stint which is disrespect him again. “I wasn’t going to let myself a positive thing. I have wanted to test a car like this “When I spoke to him say something or react in a for a long time now and today I could achieve later, I was like ‘that’s a sign way that’s going to cause some that so I am happy,” added the Spaniard. of disrespect, so don’t ever negative swirl which is going Alonso, who will be racing in Formula disrespect me like that again to steer me off course from my One’s Abu Dhabi season-ender next otherwise then we will have ultimate goal. (planetf1) weekend, posted a best time of one minute 43.013 which compared to a 1:42.38 set by Toyota regular Mike Conway. We should have a strong car The Spaniard had visited Toyota’s Cologne factory in Germany on Nov. in Abu Dhabi, says Ricciardo 7 for a seat fitting and simulator London race weekend, is that the session. ed Bull Racing driver practice sessions all take part McLaren are partnered by is hoping during the day but they race Honda, Toyota’s big domestic heR can repeat his feat of in the evening, which means auto industry rivals, but that breaking his podium duck in the data they collect is not relationship will terminate at Japan, at the 2017 Abu Dhabi particularly representative, the end of this season -- leaving Grand Prix season finale, this and so you cannot really read Alonso free to race for Toyota coming weekend. anything into performance. at Le Mans without contractual “Yas Marina has actually “It’s a fun track to drive, problems should he secure a been one of my favourite tracks I like the twilight thing and drive. over the years. It’s been a bit I guess because it’s the end Le Mans in June does not like Suzuka for me though, a of the season it’s even more clash with any Formula One track that I’ve always enjoyed enjoyable. commitments. and gone well on but not quite “We practice in the daylight Toyota have yet to confirm reached the podium at. but race at twilight which their continuation in the “I broke that trend in Suzuka makes things more challenging. endurance championship, this year so hopefully I can do You generally don’t look too with champions Porsche the same in Abu Dhabi.” much into the sunlight sessions pulling out, but are expected The Australian because in the evenings, to stay as favourites to win Le enjoys driving at when it counts, the track Mans. the Yas Marina cools down and the car Alonso, who competed in Circuit, with its changes so much. this year’s , end of season vibe, “I wouldn’t say they are has set his sights on completing and eerie twilight wasted sessions but you do the so-called Triple Crown of setting making it a have to take them with a motorsport. special event. pinch of salt.” The feat, only achieved by the The only beef Ricciardo is hoping to end late British driver Graham Hill, the Red Bull the season on a high with involves winning Indianapolis, driver has a win in Abu Dhabi, The Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar with and feels they should car and the Formula One world the definitely have championship. (Reuters) the car to do that. Fernando Alonso (file pic) (thecheckeredflag. co.uk)