NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a hilarious turn of events, Lewis Hamilton’s fans clambered all over Serena Williams after she took an apparent dig at Simona Halop following her four-year suspension for doping violations.

The 31-year-old Romanian star, who has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, was banned from tennis for four years after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.

After Halep’s suspension was announced on Tuesday, September 12, Williams took to Twitter to share a no-context message that read, "8 is a better number."

Was Serena Williams’ aimed at Lewis Hamilton?

The 23-time Grand Slam champion’s tweet was likely in reference to the 2019 Wimbledon women's singles final, where Halep thwarted Williams’ dreams of winning her eighth title.

However, Hamilton’s fans believed that the message was directed at the controversial 2021 F1 championship, where he was denied an eighth world title.

In the high-stakes race, Hamilton was defeated by Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi after race director Michael Masi bent the FIA's own rules to ensure a safety car restart on the final lap that handed a significant advantage to Verstappen.

“I think we all agree,” one user wrote while sharing a picture of Hamilton standing on his car. “That’s on @LewisHamilton he got it!!” another user said.

“Messi 8 ballons d’or Federer 8 Wimbledon Hamilton 8 Grand Prix,” a user asserted while another said, “Having class is better, but you wouldn't know.”

Hamilton and Williams have been good friends for years now. In 2021, the tennis legend revealed that she is a huge fan of the F1 racer and she adores him wholeheartedly.

“He [Lewis Hamilton] is for me the greatest driver that our generation has seen. I’m confident that he will break the record of Michael Schumacher, who was also a fabulous driver,” she told Sky Sports.

Why was Simona Halep banned?

Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was banned from competing after testing positive for the prohibited substance Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.

In addition, an analysis of 51 blood samples revealed irregularities in the athlete's biological passport.

Roxadustat is a medication that is approved for the treatment of anemia, but it is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency since it is thought to be a blood-doping agent that boosts the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin.

"The ITIA has followed the proper processes as we would with any other individual —by the World Anti-Doping Code— fulfilling our purpose and responsibility to uphold the principle of fair competition, on behalf of the sport," said Karen Moorhouse, the CEO of the ITIA.

Following her suspension, Halep released a statement on social media stating that she "refused to accept the decision” and that she would appeal the suspension.

"The last year has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis," she wrote, adding “I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.”

She continued by emphasizing that Roxadustat must have been discovered as a result of a recent alteration to her dietary supplements, which did not include any prohibited compounds but may have been contaminated.