Alonso with ‘nothing to say’ after Magnussen’s Neymar comments

Fernando Alonso has shrugged off criticism from Kevin Magnussen following their Silverstone run-in and feels the tighter fights between Formula 1 teams this season is causing more on-track clashes.

The McLaren driver was accused of exaggerating his comments over team radio by Magnussen, comparing him to Brazilian football star Neymar, following their incident during practice at the British Grand Prix in which the pair came close to colliding.

"I don't see what he says to the media. I mean he does complain a lot on the radio. You see it in other sports as well, even great athletes like Neymar and stuff, exaggerate a bit,” Magnussen said.

While neither driver served a penalty for the incident from the FIA race stewards exchanges have spilled over into preparations for the German Grand Prix but Alonso says he’s eager to move on from the flashpoint.

“Nothing really to say, the past is the past,” Alonso said. “I got the eighth place in the last laps so I was happy with that, the result didn’t change and the FIA thought differently that weekend.

“We move on. Everyone will race differently in their careers and I am very happy with my career and my results.

“I am two-times world champion and he’s trying to get some points so I can’t answer everyone’s comments.”

With a high number of track clashes seen so far in 2018, Alonso puts it down to the closer performance margins both within the midfield teams all in one group and the top three teams in the leading pack.

At Silverstone, Hamilton was hit into a spin on the opening lap by Kimi Raikkonen after producing a poor start from pole position, marking the second time in three races a Mercedes driver suffered in a  collision with a Ferrari.

Later on in the race, Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean tangled which saw both drivers crash out of the British GP.

“It’s how tight the midfield is and also the front runners,” he said. “I think Mercedes was one and two every race with half a minute, now it’s more tight.

“The podium possibilities are not for three guys, it’s for six maybe so the first corner became a little bit interesting in some of the GP.

“I think it’s just how tight the grid is. We see a little bit more action but it’s as fair as it was always and as clean as before.”