Raging Sebastian Vettel confronted Formula One chiefs after accusing them of “stealing the win” from him at a controversial and dramatic Canadian Grand Prix won by Lewis Hamilton.
Reigning world champion Hamilton was the beneficiary of a questionable decision by race stewards, taking a remarkable race after Vettel was hit with a five-second penalty for an unsafe return to the track from a move across the grass.
Vettel took the chequered flag at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve but was demoted to runner-up following a penalty for a near-collision with Hamilton on lap 48.
“Where the hell am I supposed to go?,” he said after learning of his penalty. “I had grass on my wheels. They are stealing the race from us.”
The four-time world champion was livid following the race and immediately stormed to the FIA’s office after boycotting the routine post-race interviews.
The Ferrari driver initially refused to take part in the podium celebrations.
He eventually made an appearance on the rostrum, but not before moving Hamilton’s No.1 board in parc ferme and moving it where his car should have been.
There was booing on the podium and Vettel said: “People shouldn’t ‘boo’ at Lewis. It wasn’t his intention to be in harms way, so people shouldn’t ‘boo’ at him, they should at those who make the decisions.
“It is not making our sport popular. People want to see us race, and it was racing. Just a shame when we have these funny decisions.”
Hamilton said: “That’s not the way I wanted to win, I forced him into an error and he went wide and we nearly collided – that’s unfortunate but this is racing.
“I took took the corner normally when you come back on the track you’re not supposed to go onto the racing line.
Vettel was bidding to convert a much-needed pole into a much-required win and was en route to achieving that in Montreal.
But the race was turned on its head when Vettel almost pushed Hamilton into the wall after making a mistake that saw him run on the grass.
The stewards deemed that the four-time world champion re-entered the rack unsafely and slapped him with the time penalty.
Hamilton crossed the line 1.3 seconds behind Vettel to ensure he would take the fifth win of his championship defence, and extend his lead to 29 points after Valtteri Bottas finished fourth.
Charles Leclerc completed the podium positions, but this race was all about his fuming team-mate and whether the stewards made the correct decision.
The race suddenly came alive with 25 laps remaining when Vettel’s lead over Hamilton was cut to half-a-second.
The Brit was breathing down his neck – and then the race-defining incident occurred.
Hamilton showed sharp reactions to avoid crashing into the back of the Ferrari, who cut in front of his rival and almost pushed him into the wall.
Hamilton made his feelings known via his team radio, claiming: “He just came across the track, so dangerous!”
The stewards soon decided the move warranted the five-second penalty for the German.
Cue the anger from a driver who was desperate to get his season up and running in Canada.
There was also drama behind the tussling title rivals as British teenager Lando Norris suffered a bizarre exit early on.
The McLaren starlet, who started eighth, was forced out after damaging his right rear tyre, with his brakes catching fire too.
