‘You know how it is with Max’ - Hamilton and Verstappen at odds over crash
There were shades of their fierce 2021 title battle as Hamilton and Verstappen came together as they fought over second place following an early Safety Car restart.
Verstappen got a run on Hamilton and attempted to sweep around the outside at the Senna Esses, but the pair came to blows as they went side-by-side through Turn 2.
- Hamilton blamed Max Verstappen for their clash
- Russell leads Mercedes 1-2 after Hamilton and Verstappen clash
Two-time world champion Verstappen was slapped with a five-second time penalty for the collision.
Speaking in parc ferme after recovering to second place behind Mercedes teammate George Russell, Hamilton was asked what he made of the incident.
“What can I say? You know how it is with Max,” Hamilton replied.
The seven-time world champion reacted angrily to the contact during the race, telling his race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington: “That was no racing incident, mate.”
Hamilton was again pressed on the clash with Verstappen in the post-race press conference.
Asked if he is concerned that Verstappen may have a problem with him given the amount of times they have clashed, Hamilton replied: “I’m not concerned, don't have any concerns.
“I think it’s natural when you have the success and the numbers on your chest, that you become a bit of a target. But it’s okay, it’s nothing that I’ve not dealt with before."
Verstappen: Hamilton had no intention of leaving space
Speaking to Sky Sports, Verstappen said: "To be honest I went around the outside and immediately felt he wasn't going to leave space, so I just went for it.
"He didn't leave me space so I knew we were going to get together. It cost him the race win and it gave me five seconds. It wouldn't have mattered anything for my race.
"It's just a shame, you know? I thought we could race quite well together but clearly the intention was not there to race."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner felt Hamilton should have given Verstappen more room.
"Max got ahead,” Horner told Sky Sports. “Lewis could have afforded him more room. At best, it was a racing incident."
