Vettel refutes 'dangerous driving' charge

©WRI2

Sebastian Vettel wasn't ready to admit any wrong doing associated with his on-track clash with Lewis Hamilton in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The two men came together at the end of the chaotic race's second Safety Car period. Hamilton was slow out of Turn 16, catching Vettel off-guard who rammed into the back of the Mercedes.

The Ferrari driver's temper got the better of him at that point as he pulled up alongside the Mercedes and purposefully rammed into the side of his rival.

Vettel was then hit with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty by the stewards who labeled the German's driving as dangerous, a judgment Vettel rejects.

"He brake-checked me," Vettel told the media, unapologetic of his maneuver.

"I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose but for sure it was not the right move. If I'm struggling, people in the back are struggling even more.

"I don't think it was necessary, I had a little damage, he risked damage. He'd done something similar a couple of years ago in China on the restart. It's just not the way to do it.

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Lewis Hamilton was rather mum on the same subject, refusing to be drawn into a lengthy discussion on the incident.

"You saw what happen, I don't really care about it," said the Mercedes driver. "It's done and dusted.

"I'm just looking forward to get home. It's been a good weekend and we still got some points which is obviously the key."

Post-race, the stewards confirmed their 'dangerous driving' verdict but Vettel was also handed 3 penalty points on his licence, bringing his tally 9, or three points short of a race ban.

The German will want to stay out of trouble in two weeks at the Austrian Grand Prix.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.