© Finn Pomeroy for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Lewis Hamilton says Max Verstappen “brake-tested me to try to get the DRS into the last corner to overtake me into Turn One again”.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were involved in several controversial situations at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. One of those situations ended in a collision.
Apparently Verstappen was slowing down to give the position back to Lewis, due to a previous incident, but once Lewis approached he hit the back of Max’s car.
After the race Lewis said he was confused by Max’s actions on the track.
“I didn’t quite understand why he suddenly hit the brakes quite heavily and then I ran into the back of him,” said the Briton.
“Then he moved on, so I didn’t understand exactly what was going on and I got a message afterwards that he was going to let me past so it was a bit confusing.”
Lewis however managed to continue and ultimately won the race with a damaged front wing.
“I’ve been racing here a long time but that was definitely incredibly tough. Trying to be as sensible and as tough as I could be out there, but also sensible.
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“With all my race experience over the years, just keeping the car on track and staying clean. It was difficult.
“But we persevered as a team because we had all sorts of things thrown at us in the second half of the season.
“Valtteri did a great job today to get some points, so great points for the team. This is for all the guys and girls back to the factory.”
The seven-time champion also thanked the Saudi Arabian crowd.
“I’m really grateful for the crowd we’ve had this weekend. It’s nice to be here. It’s been an amazing event.
“I’ve felt very welcome here. The people have been lovely and the track is phenomenal to drive. It’s very, very difficult physically and mentally but we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Afterwards Lewis went into more details about the crash.
“I needed to keep my cool,” Lewis told Sky Sports F1 cameras.
“I’ve raced a lot of drivers in my years and a lot of different characters, and there’s a lot over the limit for whom rules don’t apply… Today, I just tried to do my talking on the track.
“He brake-tested me to try to get the DRS into the last corner to overtake me into Turn One again. He is over the limit, for sure.”
Lewis also said that he didn’t know at the time that Verstappen was supposed to let him by.
“I didn’t get the information so it was very, very confusing. All of a sudden he started backing up and then moving. I was like ‘is he playing some sort of crazy tactic?’
“All of a sudden messages started to come through, but he hit the brakes so hard l nearly went up the back of him. For him, it doesn’t matter if we both didn’t finish.
“It will be interesting to see what happens,” concluded Hamilton.
Both Hamilton and Verstappen have been summoned to the stewards after the event for this incident.
