May 18th 2024.
Lewis Hamilton, a well-known Formula 1 driver, had a heated altercation with his rival, Max Verstappen, during practice at the Imola circuit in Italy. Verstappen, who was leading the championship at the time, was left furious after Hamilton obstructed him on the track. Despite Hamilton's attempts to apologize, Verstappen was not in the mood for diplomacy.
Verstappen, who had won four out of the first six races of the 2024 season, arrived at Imola as the favorite. However, his struggles during Friday's practice session hinted at a tough weekend ahead. He finished the afternoon session in seventh place, half a second behind Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
Verstappen's bad day also included a heated exchange with Hamilton, after the latter accidentally blocked him during a fast lap. Verstappen angrily waved his fists at Hamilton, who apologized by holding his hands up in the air. Hamilton later explained that he thought he was clear of Verstappen, but the Dutchman was suddenly right behind him. Despite his apology, Verstappen refused to accept it and told the media that it was not the first time Hamilton had obstructed him.
But Verstappen was not the only driver Hamilton got on the wrong side of in Imola. His former teammate and rival, Fernando Alonso, was also frustrated after being blocked by Hamilton. Alonso expressed his frustration over the team radio, saying that Hamilton seemed to think he was alone on the track.
Overall, it was a positive practice session for Hamilton, who had been struggling with the lack of pace in his Mercedes in the previous races. He was able to run all three tyre compounds and felt good about the balance of his car. However, he acknowledged that other teams, particularly McLaren and Ferrari, looked quick as well. Qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was set to take place the following day, with the race on Sunday.
Despite the positive start to the weekend, Hamilton remained cautious and thanked his team for their hard work in bringing updates to the car. He also mentioned that they were not getting ahead of themselves and were grateful for the improvements in their performance. The race was set to be an exciting one, with multiple teams showing strong potential.
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