Max Verstappen points damning finger at Lewis Hamilton for race-ending crash

Verstappen na de crash in de Grand Prix van Italië in Monza. — Photo: © LAT Images

Italian Grand Prix

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Verstappen points damning finger at Hamilton for race-ending crash

Hamilton and Verstappen again came together at the Italian Grand Prix

Sam Hall

Sunday 12 September 2021 17:43

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Max Verstappen has claimed he did not expect Lewis Hamilton "to keep squeezing" in the build-up to their latest astonishing collision in a remarkable F1 season.

Hamilton and Verstappen collided on lap 25 of the Italian Grand Prix with both retiring on the spot after going wheel to wheel at the opening chicane at Monza.

As Hamilton forced Verstappen onto the sausage kerbs on the inside of the chicane, the Dutchman's Red Bull was launched into the air before landing on top of the Mercedes.

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“We realised it was going to be close in to turn one so he cut across after the white line and I had to go onto the green part to not touch," Verstappen explained to Sky Sports F1. “I went around the outside and, of course, he realised I was going for it so he just kept on squeezing me and I wanted to work with him because I wanted to race."

Reflecting on comparisons between this latest incident and previous contact at the start of the British Grand Prix, he added: “Of course, before then, we automatically start talking about Silverstone but these things happen.

"It was not nice at the time but I think we are all professional enough to just get on with it and keep racing each other.

“But I didn’t expect him to keep squeezing, squeezing, squeezing because he didn’t even need to.

“Even if he would have left me just a car width, we would have raced out of turn two anyway and I think he still would have been in front.

“But then he just kept pushing me wider and wider and there was no place to go. He just pushed me onto the sausage kerb and that is why at the end of the day we touched because of the rear tyre that bumped up to his tyre.”

Italian GP lap one contact incomparable

The two drivers had already made contact once after the pair found themselves briefly second and third heading into the second chicane.

Although appearing similar, albeit reversed with Verstappen seeming to force Hamilton off the track, no investigation was launched by the stewards.

“I don’t think you can judge them exactly the same because he just kept squeezing and squeezing while I was really a lot alongside him," said Verstappen.

"You need two people to work together to make the corner and we are fighting for position and unfortunately we touched.”