McLaren criticised for making drivers’ row public
Indo-Asian News Service
London, Aug 7 (IANS) Former Formula One world champion Nigel Mansell has criticised the McLaren team for allowing the row between their drviers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to be made public.
Hamilton said Alonso was not speaking to him after he won Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix but Mansell feels the matter should have stayed private.
“It’s something for the team to deal with. It’s not something for the public to be part of,” Mansell told BBC Sport Monday.
“It’s no different to what happened years ago but it’s publicised more.”
He added: “I drove with Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg. They were all world champions and they are not going to be your best mates.
“I just feel some of the things that are happening and the way certain things are being managed would have been managed far differently a few years ago and it is a great shame.
“Too much is said sometimes, but that seems to be the way of the world.”
Mansell is also surprised that Formula One’s governing body, FIA, is getting involved in the row between the two drivers.
The FIA prevented McLaren from scoring any constructors’ points in Hungary after the incident between Hamilton and Alonso in qualifying.
“The thing I find extraordinary is that the powers that be are intervening. It’s between two drivers from the same team and it shouldn’t affect anyone else,” he said.
“If they want to cause problems between themselves, then it’s surely up to them.”