Senna Vs Prost, Schumacher Vs Hill, Formula 1 is always at its best when the hatred between the top drivers threatens to (or does) spill over onto the track.
The modern equivalent on today's grid is Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel and today that rivalry took another step towards outright hatred.
In an incredibly eventful Grand Priz in Azerbaijan, eventually won by Australian Daniel Ricciardo, Vettel let some road rage get the better of him and had a little tap at his old enemy, using his 200 mph Formula 1 car!
With the safety car out for the second time, Hamilton who was leading the race and therefore controlling the pace for the field, slowed up his car for the imminent restart. Vettel, right behind him in second place,drove straight into the back of Hamilton's Mercedes and pulled his Ferrari up beside the British driver to let him know he wasn't happy.
After expressing a few gestures Vettel inexplicably swung straight into the side of Hamilton which resulted in the the race being delayed again for the track to be cleared of debris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M2PcFEqhYc
Vettel was penalised with a 10-second stop-go whilst Hamilton was forced into a pit stop to fit a new head restraint which ended up costing him more time than the German.
In the end, it cost both of them the race with Vettel finishing in fourth position and Hamilton in fifth.
Needless to say, the Englishman wasn't best pleased with his opponents conduct branding him a "disgrace".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfrnIZDCb4Y
I control the pace, all the other restarts I slowed down at the same spot.
He lost concentration and hit me, that wasn’t for me the issue.
Driving alongside and deliberately driving into some is a disgrace.
Driving into a car could put someone at risk. Imagine all the kids watching today and seeing that from a four times world champion.
Vettel responded with no sorrow and seemed to insist that Hamilton was solely at fault for what happened.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNCOL6AMSsU
Nothing happened did it…he brake checked me as well so what do you expect?
For sure he did not do it on purpose. It was unnecessary
I guess it was the running into the back of him, but we are all grown ups we are men, emotions are running high.
We want to race wheel to wheel, but not when it is a restart.
