Hamilton apologizes, Maldonado accuses
Victim of a off-track excursion in the first third of the race, Lewis Hamilton considers himself fully responsible for his collision with Kamui Kobayashi. Pastor Maldonado, questioned on the subject, is harsh.
After initially stating that he did not know what had happened when he and his Sauber counterpart, Kamui Kobayashi, made contact, causing a violent crash for the Briton at Les Combes, Lewis Hamilton insisted on apologizing to the Japanese driver.
« After watching the replays, I realize that it’s 100% my fault. I didn’t leave enough space for Kobayashi because I thought I was through. I would like to apologize to Kamui and my team. The team deserves better from me ». Kamui Kobayashi, on the other hand, was quite measured: « After he passed me, it wasn’t my intention to take back my place, so I stayed on my line and didn’t think he would move ».
Statements confirmed by the BBC consultant and former driver, Anthony Davidson: « It was a risky maneuver, but I’m afraid it was just a racing incident. I don’t think Lewis expected Kamui to be on the outside, but there is no reason why Kobayashi shouldn’t have been there from the moment Lewis blocked the inside ».
Pastor Maldonado, with whom Lewis Hamilton had a clash at the end of the second part of qualifying, resulting in a five-place grid penalty for the Venezuelan and a reprimand for the Briton, was more critical on the BBC microphone: “I think we both made a mistake yesterday, and I’m a bit disappointed to have received a penalty and not him. Anyway, it’s racing, we have to move on. It’s in the past. The only bad thing is that he did the same thing today, so I think he should focus more on his race and not make that move.” It should be noted that this maneuver was not deemed fault-worthy by the race stewards, of whom Nigel Mansell was the fourth member for this Grand Prix.
