OCTOBER 8, 2013

Hembery apologised for hitting back at Alonso

Paul Hembery apologised after hitting back at comments made by Fernando Alonso in Korea last weekend.

Spaniard Alonso had questioned the "quality" of Pirelli's 2013 tyres.

Pirelli boss Hembery hit back: "I can only suggest he goes to ask the soon-to-be four time champion how to get the best from the same tyres."

In the wake of the pointed retort, "We invited Paul for a chat," Ferrari's Alonso is quoted by the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

"He accepted, he came, he apologised and we understand (each another) now.

"It seems strange with the season they are having that they speak up, but, as I said, he apologised," he added.

Alonso, however, insists that the mid-season change of tyre construction particularly hurt Ferrari's performance.

And "Force India is now struggling for points," he explained.

"I also remember Sauber struggling not to be out of qualifying in Q1, and now they're fighting out the front of the race," he added.

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali admitted he sees both sides of the story.

"It is important to take the complaints of drivers seriously to help them (Pirelli) do a better job," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"But I also see Pirelli's position, because if they are not given the chance to test, that's not right."

(GMM)