The heat in the Formula One world championship battle was turned up a notch at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when Sebastian Vettel appeared to intentionally drive his Ferrari into Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Under the safety car, then race-leader Hamilton slowed suddenly and the following Vettel could not avoid making contact from behind.
Vettel reacted to what he deemed to be brake-testing by immediately drawing level with Hamilton and turning his car into his rival in a deliberate act of revenge.
Hamilton later lost his lead having to pit to re-fix his head restraint while Vettel, issued a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for dangerous driving in hitting Hamilton, managed to leap his title rival.
Vettel’s fourth-place finish to Hamilton’s fifth extended the German’s standings lead to 14 points.
“I didn’t brake check him at all,” Hamilton told British broadcaster Channel 4.
“For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver is a disgrace. I think he disgraced himself today.
“If he wants to prove he is a man we should do it out of the car.
“Imagine all the young kids watching today, seeing that kind of behaviour from a world champion.”
Vettel was more restrained in reply though defended his actions.
“I have no doubt he brake-checked me,” Vettel said. “I didn’t run into the back of him on purpose. There is then a chain reaction.
“I think it was very clear. In the end we are racing with men. If one of us gets a penalty, we both do. We are both grown up men. We want to race wheel to wheel.
“Every week in the Premier League you have refs blowing the whistle, and some players agree, some disagree. It’s the same here.”
The pair had previously spoken in high regard of each other in the title race, in contrast to the frequent verbal digs Hamilton gave former teammate Nico Rosberg during their duels in previous seasons.
Vettel perhaps extended the first hint of an olive branch, saying: “The championship battle is still respectful I don’t have a problem with him, I think today’s action was wrong.”
anon
Roar Pro
If you watch one of the clips on youtube then the safety car seems to be in the same distance. It's indisputable that Hamilton slowed down quickly. Even Perez had to take evasive action to not hit Vettel. The field was literally crawling along when Hamilton slowed down.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Don't know where you got that picture from, but Autosport reckons the FIA analysis of Hamilton's telemetry shows no braking: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/130388/fia-data-rules-out-hamilton-brake-test You sure that telemetry shot is from the same lap as the crash?
anon
Roar Pro
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDLpvqrXgAAAToD.jpg He did hit the brakes.
anon
Roar Pro
A Brazilian was far more famous for it.
Dubaikiwi
Guest
Who cares about Hamilton and Vettel .... what about the result? Daniel Ricciardodo won !!!! Best result.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Hamilton just didn't hit the accelerator as early as Vettel was expecting (Hamilton was some way behind the safety car) but the safety car was moving so slowly (~90-100 km/h on the straights!) that a quick squirt of the throttle brought them back up behind it. The slow speed of the safety car caused the F1 cars tyres to go cold, reducing the tyre pressures and affecting handling and grip. That, in turn, probably lead to many of the problems on the re-starts. The safety car should be driven close to the edge of it's performance so the F1 cars can maintain tyre temperatures.
Realist
Guest
Hamilton didn't hit the breaks though. Data from his car confirms this.
Brad
Guest
I agree Seb was wrong but getting past the apex and hitting the breaks under safety car does not seam quite right either
dan ced
Guest
Forever a petulant child. Deliberately ramming another driver seems to be a favourite tactic of German formula 1 drivers doesn't it?