Formula One news

Heidfeld blames Alonso for 'unnecessary' collision

Nick Heidfeld escaped injury in Valencia on Friday after an afternoon practice incident saw the BMW make contact with the Renault of Fernando Alonso, which then went on to set the session's fastest time as the German parked in the garage.

With little time remaining in the second one and a half hour-session of the day on the Spanish streets, the collision came at Turn 25, the final corner on the circuit which leads onto the pit straight.

With both drivers in the top ten, contact between the pairing saw Heidfeld's left-rear wheel driving over the top of Alonso's right-front to result in an incident not dissimilar to that of David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher in the 1998 Argentine Grand Prix.

"When Fernando Alonso crashed into me I had an early end to the session," an angry Heidfeld explained. "Such a crash is really unnecessary during free practice; I saw him in the rear view mirror, locking up his wheels, and tried to open the door for him but he went straight into me and I almost rolled."

The Renault jettisoned its front wing before recovering to set the best time, which was followed by a solo spin for Alonso.


Fernando Alonso's reaction to what the Spaniard described as a 'normal' incident can be read here.

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