Lewis Hamilton is willing to talk with Max Verstappen before the next Formula 1 race in Hungary, after their clash at the British Grand Prix.
The tension in this year’s championship battle between the pair has skyrocketed after the Mercedes driver was deemed at fault for colliding with the Dutchman on the opening lap at Silverstone.
In his only post-race comments, Verstappen called Hamilton’s attempt to pass “dangerous” before slamming his jubilant post-race celebration as “unsportsmanlike”, while Lewis believes the Red Bull driver was simply too aggressive in his actions.
Almost every current and former F1 driver asked for comment has considered the dramatic moment at Copse a racing incident, but will Hamilton try to defuse the situation before Budapest?
“I don’t know,” he said via Formula1.com. “I’m open to it, I don’t have any issues, I mean, I don’t really know what we’ll say but just game on!
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“We’ll just keep on attacking, there needs to be respect on track, but if not, this will happen more often I guess and I tried my hardest just to stay as clean as possible.
“He cut across me and we collided, I was quite frustrated because we have to give space for one another. Anyway, I knew I had the penalty, and I knew I was going to have to give everything for the team and for the fans here… and just never gave up.”
Given the anger Red Bull and Verstappen have shown since Sunday, some believe Verstappen could be out to get Hamilton the next time they go wheel-to-wheel.
“He will do everything in his power to win the world title,” advisor Helmut Marko told the Osterreich newspaper. “But we will certainly not look for revenge or any other stupidities. We don’t go to that level.”
Meanwhile, in his post-race column, F1 motorsport chief Ross Brawn hoped Silverstone will be the only time Hamilton and Verstappen make contact.
Two angles, one collision, many views! ??#BritishGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/qIZ3Qp7KiD
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 20, 2021
“As is always the case in these matters, there will be a wide range of opinions on the rights and wrongs,” he said via Formula1.com.
“What is clear is that we were robbed of a thrilling battle and nobody wants the championship decided on crashes and penalties, and, as in this case, there was a serious risk to either driver.
“It is something both drivers will reflect on. I hope we can avoid those incidents in the future because I think we were denied a fantastic battle.
“They raced each other hard for half a lap, and it was thrilling. Imagine how dramatic the Grand Prix would have been if that had been the whole race.”