Lewis Hamilton believes Sebastian Vettel’s angry reaction in driving into him at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is evidence the German driver is psychologically weak.
Hamilton has already described Vettel’s actions in Baku on Sunday as a disgrace and demanded that, if they are to clash, they should do so like “men” outside the car. Vettel has said he wants to clear the air with Hamilton.
The British driver maintains Vettel’s move was a result of the pressure he and Ferrari have been placed under by Mercedes. The executive director at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, said he was glad the gloves were off and welcomed a “war” between the two drivers.
Daniel Ricciardo won the race but attention was focused on the title rivals. They came together with Hamilton leading while behind the safety car. Vettel hit Hamilton from behind and, believing the Mercedes driver had brake-tested him, pulled alongside and swerved to the right into the side of Hamilton’s car. The stewards adjudged it to have been driving dangerously and gave Vettel a 10-second stop-go penalty. However, when Hamilton was forced to pit again to secure a loose headrest it cost him the win and he finished fifth, one place behind Vettel.
When Hamilton was asked if Vettel’s actions proved he was not as mentally strong as had been thought, the Briton was unequivocal. “It’s been obvious for some time,” he said. “Look at last year. Some of the things he said on the radio. We know how he can be. I would never have thought that would have happened on Sunday. We as a team know that can be a positive for us.”
Hamilton was referring to the increasingly angry behaviour Vettel exhibited last season when frustrated by his underperforming Ferrari. It came to a head at the Mexican Grand Prix when he repeatedly swore over the team radio, ending with an attack on the race director, Charlie Whiting. “Here’s a message to Charlie: fuck off. Honestly, fuck off,” he said.
Vettel apologised to Whiting but it has clearly informed Hamilton and Mercedes’s opinion of his rival. The German leads the drivers’ championship by 14 points from Hamilton and while Mercedes lead the constructors’ championship by 24 points, it has been equally closely balanced, with both teams having led repeatedly this season. “We have put Ferrari under a lot of pressure,” Hamilton said. “He is obviously under pressure and that’s not a bad thing. That shows pressure can even get to some of the best of us.”
Hamilton has said he does not want to enter into a psychological battle with Vettel but it has clearly begun. Noticeably, after the race he barely referred to the German by his name, which he had been doing a lot when the pair were friendly and sharing mutual admiration in the opening races. Hamilton displayed a similar detachment when his relationship with his former team-mate Nico Rosberg became increasingly acrimonious.
“Sunday was a different Sebastian, it would seem, to what we have seen in the previous eight races,” Hamilton said. “I like to think I remain respectful and I will continue to do so. I will do my talking on the track and I want to win this championship the right way.”
Vettel, who was forthright in defence of his actions after the race, is now more conciliatory. “I don’t have a problem with him,” he said. “I respect him a lot for the driver he is. Now is not the right time to talk. I’ll do that just with him and clear it and move on. Maybe I’m not clever enough but I’m not complicated. I’m willing to sort it out with him. I don’t think there’s much to sort out.”
The pair might yet be reconciled but an end to what had been a cordial relationship was welcomed by Wolff. “Nobody wanted to see the schmoozing anyway, so now the gloves are off,” he said. “The sport needs the rivalry.
“What we have seen is the ingredient of a great championship. They are warriors. They are at war at that moment. They are fighting for the race wins and the championship. At a certain stage, the best ones that compete for the world championship in that phase of their careers can’t be friends. Maybe we’ve seen the limit of that respect.”
Hamilton said he had not brake-tested Vettel. “The reason I didn’t get a penalty is because it is clear that I did not brake-test anyone,” he said. “I was leading the race. Why brake-test him? There is no reason to do that, there is zero benefit.”
Ferrari believed they had been treated unfairly but the matter was settled late on Sunday when the FIA confirmed the telemetry data the stewards examined from Hamilton’s car proved he had maintained a consistent speed and behaved in the same way at the restart as he had on the previous occasions.
