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Lewis: If Alonso wants to race hard, I'll do it too

Thursday 27th September 2007

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Lewis Hamilton is hoping to clear the air with Fernando Alonso and discuss team-mate etiquette ahead of Sunday's Japanese GP.

Hamilton was furious with his McLaren team-mate following the last race in Spa, where he claims Alonso tried to take him off on the opening lap of the grand prix.

"It was blatant. He pushed me wide quite deliberately. I out-braked him through Turn One. There was enough room for us both to get round but suddenly I didn't have any room," Hamilton said after the race.

"I tried to get around the outside but he pushed me wide. It was not a fair race manoeuvre."

And although the McLaren rookie has calmed down in the past few days, he still wants to talk to Alonso about the move in order to ensure it doesn't happen again.

"For both of us, we have got to be careful and remember that we are team-mates," the Brit said.

"I probably will speak to him later in the weekend about this, because I haven't spoken to him since the last race and I have my feelings on what happened at the last race.

"Here is another race, another day, but when we are out there we won't be giving any handouts, that is for sure."

The Championship leader also warned Alonso that if he wants to play aggressively, he can expect the same back.

"I am driving to keep the car on the track and be fair to everyone, but if that is how aggressive he wants to be then I can be just as aggressive as anyone else," he said.

"But I am not going to take any silly risks and take myself or anyone else off - just make sure I am ahead of them and it won't be an issue."

Hamilton heads into Sunday's race with a two-point lead over Alonso in the race for this year's World title and the knowledge that his rival may have the advantage in the final two races of the season.

It's therefore vital for the rookie to do well at Fuji, a track neither of the McLaren drivers know, although he does believe he can still beat Alonso in China and Brazil.

"He knows Shanghai very well, and he knows Brazil very well, but that has never stopped me from beating him in other places so I am not worried," said Hamilton.

"It is difficult to say what is going to happen at this race or the next race. Either of us could have a bad race and that could really spice things up.

"The key for me is just to make sure that I finish in the top three, get as many points as possible, and preferably win."

And what's a title race without a few mind games with Hamilton warning Alonso that he's the one under pressure as he's the double World Champion and Hamilton's just the rookie.

"I feel I have nothing to lose. He is the one defending the World Championship, so really he should have more pressure on him. But in the last two races he has done really well," he added.

"I don't know if he has unloaded a load of baggage and is not feeling any weight off the team, or anything. He seems to be quite happy in the team all of a sudden, or with himself at least."

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