SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Lewis
Hamilton learned a lesson on Sunday about just how hard McLaren
team mate Fernando Alonso is prepared to fight in defence of his
Formula One title.

The 22-year-old Briton, who leads Alonso by two points with
three races remaining, was unimpressed after being forced off
the track by the double world champion at the start of the
Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton questioned the Spaniard's sense of fair play as
well as his loyalty to a team hard hit by a spying controversy,
with the loss of all their constructors' points and a record
$100 million fine.

"I started to accelerate and all of a sudden Fernando came
sweeping across me, and he knew I was there, so...," Hamilton
said.

Asked whether such a manouevre might be considered hard but
fair, he replied: "I wouldn't say fair, but it was hard."

"For someone that's always complaining about people doing
unfair manoeuvres, and wanting to be fair, and someone I look up
to...he has gone and swiped me and pushed me as wide as he
could," he added.

"I was just really lucky there was a run-off area so I could
take that."

OUTRIGHT COLDNESS

Alonso, whose relations with Hamilton and the
Mercedes-powered team have deteriorated to the point of outright
coldness, played down the incident.

"In the first corner, Felipe (Massa) locked the front tyre a
little bit and was blocking the inside and I had no space, or I
had a bad exit from turn one," he said. "I think also Lewis went
wide at the exit of turn one..."

Team boss Ron Dennis said it was part of racing.

"It was a little bit on the edge, they will have a
conversation about it and then they will move on," he told
reporters.

"This is just one of those things, pushing on each other.
They are fighting for the world championship, they are going to
be a little bit tough on each other. But it's nothing."

Hamilton said he intended to have words with Alonso anyway.

"I felt there was enough room for all of us to get around,
but somehow I ran out of road. It is up to you to decide how
that happened," he said.

Asked whether he had learnt something that he could use
further down the road, he replied simply: "Yes".

"It has been a tough week, and for sure a lot tougher week
for me than for Fernando because...I won't say any more."

The Briton attended Thursday's Paris spy hearing with team
management while Alonso, who has been linked with a return to
Renault and whose e-mail evidence was used against McLaren in
the hearing, went straight to Spa.

"I feel more attached to the team, I guess, and I care a bit
more I think," said Hamilton.