Magny-Cours, July 04: Renault driver Fernando Alonso has defended his driving following his clash with David Coulthard at last weekend's European Grand Prix. McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh accused the Spaniard of brake-testing Coulthard and acting in an unsporting way at the Nurburgring in Germany last Sunday.
Coulthard was forced to take evasive action when Alonso braked for the chicane and shot past the Renault and out of the race as his McLaren bounced into a gravel trap.
Alonso, who was cleared by the race stewards, said at the French Grand Prix on Thursday: "It was proved that I did not brake early despite what some people said. I did act sportingly.
"I was happy to prove that I didn't brake early - the race director checked the data at the Nurburgring and it was clear that I braked at the same point on that lap as I had the lap before and the laps after. It was a normal situation.
"I spoke to David after the accident and before we saw the marshals but nothing really was said.



"I was surprised to see David go off. I was protecting my position at the corner and after the corner I looked in my mirror and saw David was not there.



"I felt a little bit bad because it had been a good fight for the position. I don't know what happened but it was all part of a race weekend."



Coulthard said Alonso had braked earlier than expected on a number of occasions in the race and accused him of being an "inexperienced" driver who still had "a lot to learn" about F1.


Bureau Report