Lewis Hamilton says he might give up Formula One if he continues to be made out as the “bad person” of the sport.
The championship leader could be punished today for his alleged role in an incident at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday when Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel crashed.
Video footage taken by a fan in the grandstand emerged yesterday of a crash involving Webber, the Red Bull driver, and Vettel, of the Toro Rosso team, on lap 46 of a chaotic race at the Fuji Speedway. Hamilton fears that he could pay dearly for something he is adamant is not his fault. TimesOnline.co
‘Formula one’s supposed to be about hard, fair competition’
“I did the best job I could under extremely difficult circumstances with the rain, and I did the best job I could to stay out of everyone else’s way. It’s the first real situation I’ve been in in the wet behind the safety car having to manage a gap between the guy in front and look out for everyone around you. Your visor’s completely fogged up, your mirror’s completely fogged up, you’re just scared of crashing into someone else, you’re just trying to get out of the way and they’re trying to put blame on me.
“There have been some real strange situations this year where I’m made to look the bad person and, by the looks of it, this weekend be given a penalty. If this is the way it’s going to keep going it’s not somewhere I really want to be.”
The incident occurred on lap 45 of the 67-lap race and Hamilton has come in for fierce criticism from Webber regarding his behaviour during the second safety car period and how he controlled the pace and rhythm of the field. The new video footage appears to show Hamilton pulling over to the right-hand side of the track before slowing down appreciatively, causing the Australian to also brake and catching Vettel off guard. The Guardian
As he waited for the result of an FIA inquiry into the incident at Fuji that resulted in Mark Webber and Sebastian Vittel smashing into each other, Hamilton said: “I didn’t put a foot wrong. I didn’t do anything to put anyone else in danger but I’ve come away to China and no doubt I’m going to be punished for something.
“I just think it’s a real shame for the sport.” DailyMail
Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton has escaped punishment following an FIA investigation into his driving behind the safety car at the Japanese Grand Prix. Andy Hooper, Telegraph
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