Lewis Hamilton has revealed how his relationship with Fernando Alonso worsened through the 2007 F1 season.
Rookie "sad and disappointed" with Alonso relationship
Lewis Hamilton has revealed how he disobeyed team orders at the Monaco Grand Prix and also outlined the deterioration in his relationship with McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Fernando Alonso during the 2007 Formula One season.
The 22-year-old claimed that Alonso's problem stemmed from the Spaniard's belief that he was not expecting to face such stiff competition from a rookie team-mate.
Alonso arrived at the team at the end of 2006 having sealed his second successive world championship with Renault, while, having taken last year's GP2 title, Hamilton made his F1 debut in March's Australian Grand Prix.
Challenge
In excerpts from his forthcoming book published in
The Sun, Hamilton said: "Coming into the McLaren team as a two-time World Champion, he [Alonso] had not really been challenged too closely before.
"I do not believe Fernando expected a rookie to challenge him so strongly, let alone beat him, but it was just racing.
"I like and admire Fernando, so I was sad and disappointed that, for whatever reason, our relationship did not improve.
"But it was not for lack of trying."
The watershed moment came at the Monaco Grand Prix in May, when second-placed Hamilton chased down Alonso - despite instructions from the team to back off.
"In the race I felt he was pulling away and I wanted to keep pushing," Hamilton said.
"'Back off five seconds for Fernando,' the team said. 'I want to win this race. It's not over till I see a flag,' I replied. 'No, keep the gap to five seconds,' they said.
"But I said: 'I'm not here to finish second'."
Surprised
Hamilton also admitted that he was surprised to learn that Alonso, along with McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa, was aware of information relating to the 'Stepneygate' spying scandal.
McLaren were eventually fined $100 million and stripped of their constructors' championship points after the receipt of confidential Ferrari documents by chief designer Mike Coughlan - allegedly sent by ex-Maranello employee Nigel Stepney - saw the Woking team found guilty of "fraudulent conduct".
Emails sent between Alonso and de la Rosa were used as evidence in the case, with the former reportedly using their existence as a bargaining tool at the Hungarian GP by attempting to negotiate number one status within McLaren with team boss Ron Dennis.
"I heard after that Ron and Fernando had argued - during which Fernando stated he had emails in his possession that he claimed would incriminate the team," Hamilton added.
"Like everyone else I was just amazed. It was extraordinary it happened on the morning of a race."
