Hamilton describes Raikkonen clash as 'interesting tactics'

09:57, 09 Jul 2018
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Lewis Hamilton claims that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the collision with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the first-lap at Silverstone on Sunday.
Hamilton started the British Grand Prix in pole position but it all went downhill from there for the 33-year-old in his home race.
Raikkonen spun Hamilton out very early on and this allowed Raikkonen's team mate to gain the lead and the German went on to win a crucial race in the world championship.
Hamilton made his feelings very clear and he was far from happy with what went on in lap 1.
"All I'd say is that it's now two races that the Ferraris have taken out one of the Mercedes, and a five-second penalty and a ten-second penalty doesn't appear to feel... ultimately it spoils the race," Hamilton said.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff supported Hamilton's claims and feels as if his team have to make a judgement on Ferrari's antics.
"A racing incident. Unfortunate because (at) Le Castellet first time we got taken out and now it is the second time we got taken out," Wolff said.
"It is a lot of constructor points. In James Allison's words, 'do you think it is deliberate or incompetence?'. So this leaves us with a judgement."
Raikkonen has admitted his mistake following the race but insists it was not intentional.
"It was my mistake, so that's fine," Raikkonen insisted.
"I deserve it and took the 10 seconds and kept fighting. That's how it goes."