The Red Bull driver tried Lewis Hamilton overtaking on the outside, but ended up outside the track. The race management was of the opinion that the Briton deliberately pushed Verstappen outside the track and received a warning. In Abu Dhabi, Hamilton reports that this action was not carried out deliberately.
“I can use the whole track and I was already completely over Max. So it wasn’t like I was still sitting next to him and pushed him off the track. I wanted to make sure I got the best exit [uit de bocht] would receive. So I went wide into the corner. I think Max tried it from the outside,” says Hamilton, who has not seen the images. “There was no space there. Then I came out of the corner well. I didn’t go outside the white lines and I didn’t intend to consciously push him out of the track. To be honest I didn’t expect him there at all, because I thought I had already passed him and so I thought he was behind me.”
Race management has indicated in Abu Dhabi to take stricter action against unsportsmanlike conduct. If the FIA finds something cross-border, points can be deducted. With a world title on the menu for Hamilton and Verstappen, there is a lot at stake for both gentlemen. Despite the warning, the Mercedes driver does not change his approach in any case. “I think it’s fair,” continues the seven-time world champion. “But hopefully they don’t have to act and we’ll have a great game. I don’t really have an opinion about it anyway. I’m here to do my job and I don’t want to see the race management more often than they want me to see.”
Max Verstappen was given a five-second time penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after an invalid overtake on the Mercedes man in the first corner. He was instructed to return the position, but it ended in a collision. Hamilton was not yet aware of this situation and eventually hit the RB16B. After the GP, the Dutchman was given an extra time penalty of ten seconds, because the 24-year-old driver had braked, which is against the rules. Verstappen said on the Yas Marina Circuit still disagree with the sentence.
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