Lewis to put brakes on Vettel’s ‘silliness’
FORMULA One champion Lewis Hamilton has accused Ferrari title rival Sebastian Vettel of failing to play by the rules when leading behind the safety car in Sunday’s chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver told reporters he would seek a clarification from race director Charlie Whiting ahead of the next race in Spain.
Hamilton, who won in
Baku and now leads Vettel by four points after four races, was on the receiving end of a famous “road rage” incident in Azerbaijan last year when the roles were reversed.
Then, the Briton was leading the German while the safety car was deployed and was accused of “brake testing”, with the two colliding and the Ferrari driver angrily pulling alongside to bang wheels. Vettel later apologised.
“The rules are that when the safety car goes in, you’re not allowed to start and stop, start and stop,” said Hamiltond. “You’re not allowed to fake the guy behind.
“Because if there was not that rule, that’s what you’d do, because eventually you’d catch them sleeping.
“In Australia, Sebastian accelerated and then braked and I almost went up the back end of him. And today he did it maybe four times.”
Hamilton said he believed Whiting had passed the matter on to stewards for their consideration, but they had decided not to take action because the other cars were doing it.
The four-times world champion said that was because of a domino effect.
“That now sets a precedent, so that means everyone leading a Grand Prix under a safety car, can start and stop, start and stop,” he said.
“I need to get that rectified when I have the briefing next because clearly they don’t care about it, and if that’s the case, then we will see more of that. And I will expect that from him next time.”
Sunday’s race had two safety car periods due to crashes, with drivers weaving to keep heat in their tyres in cold and gusty conditions.
Vettel was leading from pole position at the first restart, with Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas at the head of the field for the second with the Ferrari behind and Hamilton third.
The German overcooked an attempt to pass Bottas at the second restart, with Hamilton and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen going through. —