Lewis Hamilton does not want to see Sebastian Vettel following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after the two came to blows under a safety car period. Vettel hit the rear of Hamilton's car as the field prepared for a restart, with the German claiming that the Mercedes driver had brake tested him.
Vettel then drove up alongside him and touched his rival sideways on which sparked controversy. Vettel was handed a time penalty for the incident, but Hamilton believes the punishment was too lenient.
"He's obviously sleeping and drove in the back of me, that for me wasn't an issue," the three-time world champion said. "Driving alongside and deliberately driving into a driver and getting away scot free pretty much, he still came away fourth, I think that's disgrace, he disgraced himself today to be honest."
Vettel said post race that they should sort the problems out as grown up men. However, Hamilton stated that he does not wish to see the 29-year-old at all, fearing that it could turn into something much more heated.
"I don't fancy seeing him. It might turn into something else. I've heard what he said after the race. Firstly, he doesn't have my number. I'm going to do my talking on the track. All I'm thinking is 'get my head together'. I want to kill it in the next 12 races."
After a rather respectful championship battle up to this point, Toto Wolff thinks that things have now changed between Vettel and Hamilton. Vettel stated that he has no problem talking with Hamilton in an attempt to resolve the issues that arose yesterday.
"I don't have a problem with him," he said. "I respect him a lot for the driver he is. I don't think this is the right time to talk. I will do that just with him. I am willing to sort it out with him but l don't think there is much to sort out. I will talk with him when you [the media] are not here. I don't think there is a big problem."
Fergal Walsh
Kevin
Posts: 5,357
Hamilton should not be acting like the big moralist in this matter. The brake check against Vettel was pretty clear. Looking in his mirrors, braking in the mid of a corner, not accelerating after that. Sure, Vettel should not have turned into him (although I really can't be bothered by it, these ... [Read more]