'Alonso holds a grudge against Hamilton, and will screw him over if he can'

The Hungarian Grand Prix was all about the battle between old rivals Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, and of course the first victory of Esteban Ocon. Jack Plooij looks back on the first half of the 2021 season in an interview with Motorsport.com.

'In Holland he is perhaps not the most loved because of that action with Max that is burned into everyone's retinas,' says the pit reporter. "But if we're really honest, you also have to be a bit of an asshole to be world champion. You don't have to be a nice guy at all."

Alonso helped both Ocon and Verstappen defend against Hamilton

"Who does Max have to be nice to? To nobody. He has to become world champion at all costs. Ocon is the same," continued Plooij, to who the help Ocon received from teammate Alonso did not go unnoticed. "What a great help that guy had from Alonso", he says.

According to Plooij, Alonso meant his words about being happy to help Verstappen completely. "Absolutely. He holds a grudge against Hamilton. Those two are like water and fire. So he thinks: 'If I can screw over Hamilton, I will'," said the pit reporter.