Lewis Hamilton was initially mum on the subject of his clash with Sebastian Vettel under the Safety Car, but has not hit out at his rival for his behavior.

The Mercedes driver first refuted claims that he had brake-tested Vettel on the exit of Turn 16, just before the race got back underway. 

“I didn’t. I controlled the pace,” Hamilton insisted.

“Like all the other restarts, I slowed down in the same spot. He was obviously sleeping and drove into the back of me. That wasn’t, for me, an issue.

“Driving alongside and deliberately driving into another driver and getting away pretty much scot-free as he still came fourth, I think that’s a disgrace. I think he disgraced himself today.”

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In addition to damage which could have been inflicted to both cars, Hamilton lamented the fact that the maneuver simply set an appalling example for younger drivers. 

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“It definitely sets a precedent, I think, within F1 and it also does for all the young kids that are watching us drive and conduct ourselves. And they’ve seen today how a four-time champion behaves.

“And I think hopefully that doesn’t ripple into the younger categories.” 

Hamilton didn’t hold back any punches as he discoursed further on his rival’s attitude. 

“If he wants to prove that he’s a man, I think we should do it out of the car face to face.

“Driving dangerously which in any way can put another driver at risk… we were going slow, if we’d been going fast it could’ve been a lot worse.

“Imagine all the young kids that are watching Formula 1 today and see that kind of behavour from a four-time world champion. I think that says it all.”

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