Formula One fans are not happy with Max Verstappen after he collided with Lewis Hamilton during the Brazilian Grand Prix, with some feeling that the Dutchman did it on purpose.
In what was a race packed full of incidents, Verstappen and Hamilton reignited their feud after a collision on lap six. As the pair approached the first two corners, Verstappen was slightly ahead going into turn one, but Hamilton went back ahead going into the second corner.
As they turned the corner, the cars made contact which resulted in Verstappen losing parts of his front wing. Whilst Hamilton was lucky not to suffer a puncture.
Shortly after the incident, Verstappen blamed Hamilton, he said on his team radio: “He left me no space.” Hamilton said: “That was not a racing incident.”
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The FIA investigated the incident and concluded that Verstappen was at fault, handing the Red Bull driver a five-second penalty.
Hamilton’s hopes of winning the race were ruined by the crash as he came second to his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who recorded his maiden F1 victory.
After the race, Verstappen said: “I went around the outside at Turn 1 and I just felt it as soon as I was going next to him, he had no intention to leave me space.
“I said ‘OK if you don’t leave me space then we’re just going to collide’.
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“At the end of the day, we were too slow anyway, and for him, it ruined his chance to win the race.”
Fans were quick to react to the coming together on social media, with some suggesting that Verstappen did it on purpose.
One said: “So in one interview Verstappen managed to imply that he crashed into Hamilton on purpose AND Checo crashed at Monaco on purpose????”
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Another tweeted: “Verstappen has just admitted basically to hitting Hamilton on purpose, how can he just say that?”
A third fan added: “Verstappen literally admitting he caused a collision on purpose. Pathetic display from him. No surprises.”
Verstappen and Hamilton were involved in a string of controversial moments last season as the pair battled to become the world champion, the battle last year was eventually won under the most dramatic circumstances by the Dutchman in the final race of the campaign.
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Do you think Verstappen crashed into Hamilton on purpose? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Sky Sports F1Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes
