Alonso offers advice to rival Lewis

LEWIS HAMILTON yesterday received advice from an unlikely source as he looks to repair the damage caused to his reputation by the ‘lie-gate’ scandal.

Hamilton and McLaren had a weight lifted from their shoulders last week as they avoided serious sanctions after being caught blatantly lying to the race stewards in Australia and Malaysia.

At a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, McLaren were handed a suspended three-race ban which will only be enforced should they err again or further evidence into the case be discovered.

A line has effectively been drawn in the sand, but at what cost to Hamilton, especially when such a legendary figure as Stirling Moss recently remarked that he felt let down by the world champion’s actions.

The 24-year-old may have been coerced into lying by sacked sporting director Dave Ryan, but the wholesome image he had previously nurtured was still shot to pieces.

So step forward Fernando Alonso, the double world champion who was embroiled in a bitter bust-up with Hamilton during a turbulent 12 months with McLaren in 2007.

Although the two drivers have since cleared the air, the words of the Spaniard came as quite a surprise yesterday when he was asked to supply a reference for Hamilton the sportsman.

“We had good competition that helped each other to find our limits, and I can say I miss that competition in a way because it was fun to push and find new limits for ourselves,” remarked the Renault driver.

“Lewis fought for the world championship in his first season in Formula One, and won it in the second season.

“So to help his reputation that is damaged now, that is very easy – just keep winning. He will make people, his supporters, happy.

“That is very important. To do our job, to give the maximum in the car, win races, championships, that’s the best thing you can do.”

Hamilton responded: “I need to keep being me, remain humble and try to continue to do a good job.

“I hope over the course of time people will get to know exactly who I am and understand that I am, in actual fact, a good person, and I do what I do because I love it.”

Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix Hamilton at least can claim to tension being eased within the team in the wake of last week’s verdict.

“What’s been impressive is the team have not been affected by it,” he added.

“We’ve been pushing since the test we had here (Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya), and fortunately through past experiences they’ve been very, very strong altogether and focused on the primary goal.

“For sure it’s a weight off the shoulders of the team, and the guys back at the factory who can focus more on getting the car back to the front.’’

Meanwhile Nick Heidfeld has reminded the FIA of their obligation to the fans following president Max Mosley’s shock attack on Ferrari.

After an exchange of letters last week with Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo in relation to the budget cap, Mosley later claimed Formula One could live without the sport’s most iconic brand.

Politically motivated the remark may have been as there is a battle being waged between the FIA and the Formula One Teams’ Association, of which di Montezemolo is chairman.

But as far Heidfeld is concerned there av be no Formula One without Ferrari.

BMW Sauber’s Heidfeld was the most pointed, referencing the fact the FIA had only recently conducted a worldwide survey of a broad cross-section of the public as to how F1 could be more attractive.

“It was a bit strange hearing that (comment) from him (Mosley),” said Heidfeld.

“I thought people were looking and listening to the fans worldwide, and Ferrari is obviously the biggest name in F1 with many fans.’’