Baku firestorm good for F1 - Vandoorne

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Any controversy is good for the exposure of Formula 1 , says McLaren-Honda's Stoffel Vandoorne after last Sunday's incident between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

Speaking in his regular post-GP column for Motorsport.com, the Belgian refrained from judging the perpetrators involved in the dispute but insisted that a bitter rivalry between two leading drivers is exactly what the fans want to see.

"It is clear that there are a lot of different opinions about what happened," McLaren-Honda's Vandoorne told Motorsport.com, as he looked back on the incidents.

"My view is that [it] is always difficult to judge things completely from on-board footage, but it was a little bit of a strange reaction from Seb," admitted Vandoorne.

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"When you are in the heat of the moment, and when you are fighting for victory, then the emotion maybe takes you over a bit.

"In terms of the bigger picture and for F1 in general, I think the controversy was a positive thing, as this big rivalry and big fight for the championship is exactly what the fans and public want to see.

"I'm not saying that what Seb did was right or wrong, but for the sport to be able to see such emotion is definitely a good thing."

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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.