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.
"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."
GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Sergio Perez believes Red Bull Racing will be in a great place despite the departure…
We’re on the eve of another adrenaline-pumping weekend of action in Florida, with Formula 1's…
Lewis Hamilton has put departing Red Bull designer Adrian Newey at the top of his…
Nico Hulkenberg says Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl was the “driving factor” behind his decision to…
Honda says it hopes to continue supporting its protégé Yuki Tsunoda despite its departure from…
The news of Adrian Newey's departure from Red Bull has cast a shadow of uncertainty…