Alonso perplexed by Hulkenberg’s driving in Belgian GP start crash

Fernando Alonso has questioned Nico Hulkenberg’s driving after the pair were involved in a huge crash on the opening lap of the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Renault driver slammed into the rear of Alonso’s McLaren under braking for the first corner at La Source, sending the Spaniard airborne and over the top of Charles Leclerc’s Sauber.

Alonso was left baffled as to how Hulkenberg managed to get his braking point so wrong and compared the incident to the spectacular first-corner crash in 2012 that resulted in race ban for Romain Grosjean.

"Yet again a very big-time missed braking point," Alonso told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Last time Romain had a race ban. This time we'll see.

"It's hard to understand how you can miss a braking point that much. You arrive at a speed where it's impossible to negotiate the corner."

All three drivers were forced into retirement but emerged unscathed from the dramatic collision, with the Halo cockpit safety device on Leclerc’s car appearing to have been struck by Alonso’s MCL33.

"The positive side is that we all three are OK, including Charles," Alonso explained. "I flew over his car and the halo was a very good thing to have today.

"I think for him it helped, looking at the replay. I was definitely happier that I had the halo. We don't need to prove that it's a good thing to have."

Both Alonso and Hullkenberg have been called to see the race stewards following the incident.