SIR LEWIS HAMILTON claims he almost broke his back in his collision with Fernando Alonso at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Stevenage speedster crashed into the back of the Spaniard while trying to overtake him in the opening lap of the Spa race on Sunday.
Hamilton was sent flying into the air and the front of his Mercedes came crashing down on the track, an impact he claims he's "lucky" to have walked away from.
The 37-year-old said: “Well, yeah, I almost broke my back coming down.
"So it's a big, big hit. I remember just looking at the ground.
“So it was quite high. It was definitely high up. I'm grateful to be still alive and in shape.”
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Hamilton tried to continue the race but the damage to his underperforming car ultimately proved to be too much.
He said: “I could hear something's broken in the gearbox.
"So yeah, I mean, coming down I would have broken so much in the back end.
“So I was told to stop. But obviously, in that moment, you're hopeful you can keep going. But yeah, not meant to be.”
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Former world champion Alonso branded Hamilton an "idiot" in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
He later said: “I think for me it was a little bit of a mistake from his side to close the door like this in turn five.
"We have seen many times it goes parallel there.
“It happened the same between him and Rosberg a couple of years ago, so this time it was the same thing.”
Hamilton was understanding of Alonso's initial reaction, saying: "I don’t really have a response to it.
"I know that’s how things feel in the heat the moment, but it’s nice to know how he feels about me in a way, better that it’s out in the open, how he feels.
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"Like I said, it wasn’t intentional and I take responsibility for it. That’s what adults do."
Hamilton and Alonso will be back in action on Sunday afternoon at the Dutch Grand Prix at the Circuit Zandvoort.
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