Lewis Hamilton says Sebastian Vettel ‘disgraced himself’ after the four-time world champion drove into the Mercedes driver during a Safety Car period in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Vettel, running second at the time, accused Hamilton of brake testing after he collided with the rear of the Brit’s car at the exit of Turn 15 while preparing to restart the race.
Angered by the incident, Vettel then swerved his Ferrari into the side of Hamilton’s car, which resulted in a 10 second stop/go penalty for the German.
“Driving alongside and deliberately driving into another driver and getting away pretty much scot-free as he still came fourth, I think that’s a disgrace,” said Hamilton.
“I think he disgraced himself today.”
Hamilton believes his actions set a bad precedent both within F1, and for younger drivers climbing the ranks.
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“It definitely sets a precedent within F1 and it also does for all the young kids that are watching us drive and conduct ourselves,” said Hamilton.
“They’ve seen today how a four-time champion behaves. Hopefully that doesn’t ripple into the younger categories.”
Vettel finished fourth, with Hamilton fifth after an extra pitstop to repair a loose headrest.
When Vettel’s suggestion that he had been brake tested was put to him, Hamilton insisted that he did not and that the Ferrari driver was at fault.
“I didn’t, I controlled the pace,” said Hamilton.
“Like all the other restarts, I slowed down in the same spot. He was obviously sleeping and drove into the back of me. That wasn’t, for me, an issue.”
Vettel leads Hamilton by 14 points in the championship standings.
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