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Hamilton makes peace with Verstappen in F1

Fout-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has shaken hands with Max Verstappen after their collision at the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton has shaken hands with Max Verstappen (pic) after their Bahrain Formula One collision. (AAP)

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has made peace with Max Verstappen and moved on from their collision at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver on Thursday told reporters, ahead of the Chinese GP in Shanghai, he had sought out the 20-year-old Red Bull driver and shaken hands.

"Being that I'm the older driver, I felt that it was important that I went to him," he said.

"I just shook his hand and I was like, 'Look I'm sorry about the last race'.

"Regardless if it is his fault or my fault, it's in the past. Hopefully, that sign of respect shows a lot and helps you turn the page and move forwards."

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Verstappen earlier accused the four-time world champion of taking the easy option, blaming him for Sunday's collision at Sakhir, and said he would not be doing anything different in future.

Asked why he felt Hamilton had blamed him, the Dutch driver replied: "Why? Because it's quite simple and easy to blame the younger driver. That's the only way I can see it."

The pair collided on the second lap of the floodlit race when the youngster darted down the inside of the 33-year-old to try to take 10th position.

The impact punctured a tyre on Verstappen's car, eventually damaging the gearbox and forcing him to retire. Hamilton finished third.

"You know, that's racing," said Verstappen comparing his move to a similar one he pulled off in Mexico last year on the way to victory.

"Why should I change something? I was just trying to overtake a car. Last year in Mexico, it could have gone wrong as well - maybe for me, maybe for another car. As you could see ... it didn't.

"I don't understand why everybody is on top of the topic because those things happen in racing."

Verstappen has taken Formula One by storm since his 2015 debut as a 17-year-old with the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso team.

His speed, aggression and skill have won many admirers but also led to run-ins with rivals, including Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton had always spoken of the man he sees as a future champion in glowing terms, but had been heard swearing in reference to him immediately after Sunday's race.

He also accused the Red Bull driver of lacking respect, suggesting Verstappen's inexperience was costing the former champions crucial points.


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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