<p>Lewis Hamilton branded world championship leader Sebastian Vettel as a “disgrace” and challenged the German to “prove you’re a man” after he deliberately crashed into him in Sunday’s tempestuous Azerbaijan Grand Prix.<br /><br />Four-time world champion Vettel was given a 10-second stop-go penalty for driving his Ferrari into the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes while they were following the safety car after 19 laps on the Baku street circuit.<br /><br />Hamilton, who was leading after making a clean start from the 66th pole position of his career, had initially slowed to avoid the slow-moving safety car ahead of him, an action that may have caused Vettel to drive into the rear of his Mercedes.<br /><br />This damaged both cars — loosening further the head-rest in Hamilton’s car so severely that he was ordered to pit on safety grounds for repairs — and caused Vettel to lose his temper by pulling alongside Hamilton and then turning into him.<br /><br />“I think it’s just not the correct driver conduct,” said Hamilton, picking his words as he spoke to reporters.<br /><br />“It’s dangerous driving and to get a 10-seconds penalty for that... I don’t need to say anything else.”<br /><br />Vettel, who had accused the Briton of brake-checking him, had served his penalty during the race after the stewards decided his actions added up to “dangerous driving”. Hamilton was not reprimanded or punished.<br /><br />The three-time champion Briton added later: “I didn’t brake-check him at all. For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver is a disgrace. I think he disgraced himself today.<br /><br />“If he wants to prove he is a man we should do it out of the car, face-to-face. Imagine all the young kids watching today — seeing that kind of behaviour from a world champion.<br /><br />“I know my boys will be devastated (about the head-rest issue) but I think it’s important to take away the great performance throughout the weekend.”<br /><br />Vettel, who had attempted to demand an explanation for the penalty during a terse radio exchange with his Ferrari team, said that nothing had happened.<br /><br />“Nothing happened, did it? He brake-checked me as well so what do you expect?<br /><br />“I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose, but for sure it was not the right move. If I’m struggling, people at the back are struggling even more so I don’t think it was necessary.<br /><br />“I got damage. He risked damage. He’s done something similar in China at the restart a couple of years ago so it’s not the way to do it, I think.”<br /><br />Vettel continued to protest his innocence after the race.<br /><br />“I didn’t run into the back of him on purpose. There is then a chain reaction.”<br /></p>
<p>Lewis Hamilton branded world championship leader Sebastian Vettel as a “disgrace” and challenged the German to “prove you’re a man” after he deliberately crashed into him in Sunday’s tempestuous Azerbaijan Grand Prix.<br /><br />Four-time world champion Vettel was given a 10-second stop-go penalty for driving his Ferrari into the back of Hamilton’s Mercedes while they were following the safety car after 19 laps on the Baku street circuit.<br /><br />Hamilton, who was leading after making a clean start from the 66th pole position of his career, had initially slowed to avoid the slow-moving safety car ahead of him, an action that may have caused Vettel to drive into the rear of his Mercedes.<br /><br />This damaged both cars — loosening further the head-rest in Hamilton’s car so severely that he was ordered to pit on safety grounds for repairs — and caused Vettel to lose his temper by pulling alongside Hamilton and then turning into him.<br /><br />“I think it’s just not the correct driver conduct,” said Hamilton, picking his words as he spoke to reporters.<br /><br />“It’s dangerous driving and to get a 10-seconds penalty for that... I don’t need to say anything else.”<br /><br />Vettel, who had accused the Briton of brake-checking him, had served his penalty during the race after the stewards decided his actions added up to “dangerous driving”. Hamilton was not reprimanded or punished.<br /><br />The three-time champion Briton added later: “I didn’t brake-check him at all. For him to pretty much get away with driving into another driver is a disgrace. I think he disgraced himself today.<br /><br />“If he wants to prove he is a man we should do it out of the car, face-to-face. Imagine all the young kids watching today — seeing that kind of behaviour from a world champion.<br /><br />“I know my boys will be devastated (about the head-rest issue) but I think it’s important to take away the great performance throughout the weekend.”<br /><br />Vettel, who had attempted to demand an explanation for the penalty during a terse radio exchange with his Ferrari team, said that nothing had happened.<br /><br />“Nothing happened, did it? He brake-checked me as well so what do you expect?<br /><br />“I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose, but for sure it was not the right move. If I’m struggling, people at the back are struggling even more so I don’t think it was necessary.<br /><br />“I got damage. He risked damage. He’s done something similar in China at the restart a couple of years ago so it’s not the way to do it, I think.”<br /><br />Vettel continued to protest his innocence after the race.<br /><br />“I didn’t run into the back of him on purpose. There is then a chain reaction.”<br /></p>