‘Freaked-out’ Vettel slammed
NIKI LAUDA: HE IS CRAZY, LEWIS WILL HIT HIM ONE DAY Hamilton calls on German to settle matters out of the car.
Acrazy Sebastian Vettel “freaked out” under pressure in his “road rage” eruption during Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix – and is likely to be hit back with Lewis Hamilton’s fist, according to Mercedes boss Niki Lauda.
The three-time world champion and non-executive chairman said he had never seen anything like it before after Vettel had driven his Ferrari into Hamilton’s Mercedes on lap 19.
As four-time champion German Vettel woke to face the global reaction to his actions and attitude as he sought out Hamilton’s phone number for a private chat, many observers said his 10-seconds penalty was not enough.
Lauda’s contemporary Briton John Watson suggested the Ferrari driver should have been given a one-race ban, or a stronger sanction, while Lauda forecast that it would not be long before Hamilton punched back.
“He freaked out in himself,” said Lauda. “When you hit somebody up the a*** it is your fault. No question. But then to drive next to him and hit him on purpose, I’ve never seen anything like this.
“Vettel is a decent guy normally. This I don’t understand. He is crazy. Lewis will hit him one day. Not with the car but with his fist.”
Hamilton finished fifth, one place behind Vettel, and is now 14 points behind him in the title race after eight of this year’s 20 races.
The Briton stayed calm after the race, despite the provocation, after stewards had confirmed he had not “brake-tested” Vettel, as he alleged, leading to the Ferrari driving into him.
“For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver is a disgrace,” said Hamilton. “If he wants to prove he is a man we should do it out of the car, face-to-face.”
Vettel was also given three points on his driver’s licence, increasing his total to nine, and any further misdemeanour before he loses two next month could see him face a one-race ban. – AFP