Lewis Hamilton attacked with obscene verbal abuse

It was a squalid scene at the Barcelona test session last weekend.

Jingoistic Alonso fans hurled such obscene verbal abuse (and the odd beer can) at Lewis Hamilton that McLaren were forced to shut themselves away.

The team erected a metal barrier to stop these idiots from disrupting the sanctity of their motorhome in the paddock, and they even had to source a couple of mobile toilets. Yes, Lewis couldn't even visit the boy's room without getting it in the neck.

Never before, in 12 years of reporting on F1, can I remember such vindictive abuse directed towards one driver.

Inside the McLaren pit, Indy Lall, their test team manager, put up notices urging team members not to retaliate. The temptation was huge for everybody, except - remarkably - for Lewis. He seemed the least affected by his treatment from the fans and he even stopped to sign autographs and to wave to the crowd.

Of course Lewis condemns such behavior, but he chose to rise above it last weekend. What incredible maturity from a guy aged only 23. He was working on his new car, the MP4-23, and nothing was going to stop him achieving his goals.

And, much to the chagrin of those in the 55,000 people in the grandstands, he finished the test faster than Alonso.