Former world champion Niki Lauda believes the Formula One authorities need to do something about Lewis Hamilton after the British driver crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton collided with McLaren teammate Jenson Button on the eighth lap in Montreal, shortly after sending Australian Mark Webber into a spin.
Button went on to win the race, which stretched over four hours because of a two-hour rain suspension.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Controversial ... Lewis Hamilton, front, drives close to teammate Jenson Button bvefore crashing into him. Photo: Getty Images
The incidents came after Hamilton's actions at the Monaco Grand Prix drew criticism and Lauda said it was time for action to be taken against the aggressive-driving former world champion.
"What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries," Lauda told RTL television.
"He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more.
Hit by Lewis Hamilton ... Jenson Button, left, and Mark Webber. Photo: AP
"At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this - as it will result in someone getting killed."
Hamilton came off worst when he tried - and failed - to get past his fellow Briton Button, leaving his teammate fuming over the team radio.
"What's he doing?" Button said in the aftermath of the crash to his team back on the pitwall.
Outspoken ... Niki Lauda. Photo: Craig Sillitoe
"Jenson made a mistake into the corner and I got the run on him," Hamilton told the BBC.
"I felt I was halfway up the outside, but he kept moving across - whether or not he saw me I don't know, but then I was in the wall."
Hamilton tried to nurse his damaged car round the track to the pits, but he was told to pull up, park and retire.
He added: "The team said I had a broken suspension and so I pulled over, but when I got out that wasn't the case. It was only the tyre that was busted - I thought."
The team later confirmed the damage to his car was more serious than Hamilton believed.
Team manager Jonathon Neal said: "I think there is such a thing as an accident. We're not the first team to have such an accident and I'm sure we won't be the last."
Hamilton had collided with Red Bull Webber on the first corner after the cars were allowed to race when the safety car pulled in after four laps.
"I went down the inside and he braked quite early," said Hamilton. "I was on the kerb and then I pushed over and we just touched."
Hamilton's latest brushes with his rivals and controversy came just hours after he had received support for his 'all-out attack' driving style from an unexpected quarter.
Former world champion Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi had accused him of being over-aggressive but seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, whose history of bold and attacking driving also attracted as many critics as admirers, was the man who moved to defend the 26-year-old Englishman.
The 42-year-old German, now racing for Mercedes, said he disagreed with the views of Fittipaldi - one of the stewards for Sunday's race - and believed Hamilton did not deserve the punishment he received for his alleged transgressions in Monaco two weeks ago.
Schumacher said: "In Monaco we know it is very difficult to pass and if somebody doesn't want it, then it is very hard to avoid a collision. I guess, in two of the four cases he passed people, two didn't want it and two accepted it.
"It is a tough situation to be perfectly right. You will always find one or the other opinion on that - but put it this way - I would not have given him a penalty for [the incident with] Felipe [Massa] at least."
0 comments:
Post a Comment