GPI 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Page 106

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.