Lewis Hamilton says he would not have backed from his scrap by Charles Leclerc at the Italian GP and the set”could have collided” – if he wasn’t pursuing a sixth Formula 1 name.
Hamilton was hunting down race-winner Leclerc for much of Grand Prix enthralling and the couple went wheel-to-wheel approaching the chicane, but the Mercedes motorist was thrown off the track and needed to cut to prevent contact.
Hamilton queries judgment
FIA describe Leclerc’yellow card’
A crash would probably have ruined both drivers’ races, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff claimed that Hamilton”had been instrumental in not making it an episode”.
But asked if he would have done anything else if the F1 2019 tournament was resolved, Hamilton confessed:”I wouldn’t have moved. We would have collided.”
As he seems to become the second driver in F1 history together with six shingles hamilton has been 63 points ahead of Valtteri Bottas remaining.
“The driver that goes to the Drivers’ Championship stored Charles and saved himself,” added Wolff, who believed Leclerc’s moves were”possibly over the line”.
“Lewis understood what he was doing, he didn’t lose any bits or parts in that incident, but he would have equally decided,’I am not going to let this happen’, and set the two cars out.”
Hamilton looking forward to more struggles
Hamilton contested the stewards’ decision to not inflict a harsher penalty on Leclerc and branded the driving because”reckless” on team radio – but insisted that he had no problem with”among the very respectful drivers” in Leclerc.
“There is not any absence of respect,” Hamilton told reporters. “We do not have a issue, we are not in a struggle, I congratulated him if he got out of the automobile.
“Charles is among the most respectful motorists. This is actually the very first time I have gone and using a driver, you learn how they place your car next time and maybe approach scenarios that are various. Perhaps I’ll do a much better job next time.”
Hamilton continued:”There’s zero problem with people he did an exceptional job and I don’t have any difficulty with it, it is what it is.
“I haven’t spoken to him and also we don’t have a issue but if we receive an instant together we may chat, just reverse functions and make certain that he is cool that when I am able and that occurs and that is cool and that is how we are rushing.
“Out of what I understand entering the race you are supposed to make a gap, today I really don’t know if that’s true. But it’s great that we are able to race hard and now was a difficult battle which is good.
“We’ll continue to race and I’m looking forward to a lot more races together.”
Hamilton happy to’race such as this’
Leclerc has been given the black flag by race stewards, F1’s variation of a’yellow card’, also Wolff said he considers that rule will create contact between the motorists”common practice”.
However in regards to penalties and rules while Hamilton called for consistency, he said he is happy to race hard.
“If that’s how we’re allowed to race then I shall race like that,” he stated. “As long as you know that you are permitted to not leave a car width for example, provided that you are not contradicting us and there is a very clear message.
“So you’re permitted to run wide even if someone is there and you simply get a warning sign, and you merely require that after to possibly keep the man behind you.
“As long since it’s clear that that’s how moving forward it’s ok so I understand how to enter battle and it is the exact same for all the motorists.”
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