Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has sensationally been accused by a top Red Bull employee of faking injuries sustained in the crash he had with title rival Max Verstappen.
Both crashed out of the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, after making contact while racing through the chicane at the end of Monza's home straight.
After bouncing up off a sausage kerb, Verstappen's car came to rest on top of the Mercedes being driven by Hamilton, with footage showing the Briton had been saved from being crushed by the Red Bull's rear wheel by the 'halo' safety barrier on his car.
Despite appearing at the Met Gala in New York in the days following the crash, Hamilton said on social media he has had headaches and "a tight neck" as a result of the incident, which saw the wheel of Verstappen's car hit his helmet.
But Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has accused the Mercedes man of exaggerating the impact of the crash and faking his injuries.
He told Austrian outlet Osterreich : "It was a normal racing accident. All the stories around it were pulled up by the hair by Mercedes.
"Verstappen had already got out when Hamilton tried to go back to get out of the gravel.
"The medical car saw that and drove on. And then a show is put on that poor Hamilton is suddenly injured."
The majority of the blame for the incident was deemed to lie at Verstappen's door, and the Dutchman was handed a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Russia.
It could have ramifications for what is proving to be an extraordinarily tight title battle, with Verstappen leading by just five points after extending his lead with two points earned in sprint qualifying the day before the race neither of them finished.
Both racers had to retire from the Grand Prix, leaving McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo to take a first race win in three years and team-mate Lando Norris to complete an unlikely one-two for 'Team Papaya'.
Hamilton took to social media in the aftermath to let fans know he was okay.
"It's days like today, I am reminded of how lucky I am," he wrote.
"It takes a millisecond to go from racing to a very scary situation. Today someone must have been looking down, watching over me!
"My necks a bit sore as the adrenaline wears off – it was a bit of a hit on the head, so naturally I have one big headache but I'm doing okay!
"The halo stopped the crash from being a lot worse and I'm incredibly grateful to all those that work to make our cars and racing safer."
