Why Hamilton Verstappen clash baffled Gasly

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has explained why he felt hard done by after contact between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen last year.

The Frenchman was one of F1's standout performers during 2021 as he regularly qualified in the top eight and finished in the points on 15 occasions on his way to claiming ninth in the drivers' standings.

Gasly's season could have been stronger but for incidents that effectively forced him out of contention for significant points returns in Bahrain and Monza especially.

Verstappen's former team-mate also intimated a collision between the Dutchman and Mercedes driver Hamilton had left him feeling even more unlucky.

Speaking in an end-of-season interview that included GPFans, Gasly said: "Of course, over 22 races, you're always going to get your share of bad luck being involved.

"In some incidents looking at Max, there was Baku, there was Silverstone. All of us get our drama in the year, but I must say on my side, it was a little bit painful in Bahrain at the start of the season.

"We lost the front wing, we lost another front wing in Monza."

Gasly then referenced Hamilton running into the back of Verstappen during the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix yet remarkably retaining his front wing and going on to win.

The 25-year-old added: "Especially when I see Lewis and how hard he hit the back of that Red Bull and seeing he's able to win the race.

"I felt like mine [incidents] were probably 10 times smaller contact than that and still ruined the entire race.

"Overall I can't really complain. It was an incredible [year in terms of] qualifying performance and also in terms of race pace, the best of it we showed by the margin of quality compared to the previous year."

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