RACE REPORT
While Vettel made a good start to hang on to
second place, he looked set to challenge late on in
the race until fate changed the script unexpectedly.
Vettel claimed Hamilton had braked in front of
him and bumped into the back of his rival before
then ramming the Briton from the side.
“I think it’s just not driver conduct. It’s
dangerous driving and to get a 10-second penalty
for that… I don’t need to say anything else,”
Hamilton said afterwards.
Vettel pleaded innocent and told reporters,
“Nothing happened, did it? He brake checked me
as well, so what do you expect?”
“I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose but for sure
it was not the right move. If I’m struggling, people
at the back struggling even more, so I don’t think it
was necessary.
“I got damage, he risked damage. He’s done
something similar in China at the restart a couple
of years ago so it’s not the way to do it, I think.
“I passed him because he pitted. After the
incident, we were side by side, I raised my hand
and told him, well I didn’t say anything, but showed
him that I wasn’t happy with that.”
No doubt the knives are now sharpened in the
battle for the title, and afterwards the animosity was
palpable which sets the scene for an intriguing duel
between the two for the remainder of the season.
Esteban Ocon of Force India, survived a
collision with his teammate Sergio Perez, was sixth
ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, and the Toro
Rosso of Carlos Sainz, who recovered from a first-
lap spin to avoid his teammate Daniil Kvyat.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso, scored
McLaren’s first points of the year in ninth, with
Pascal Wehrlein claiming the final point for Sauber.
Only 13 cars finished the race.