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Lewis Hamilton has defended his and his Mercedes team’s conduct after the British Grand Prix, in the wake of Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen’s criticism of “disrespectful” behaviour.
Hamilton and Verstappen collided at Silverstone when Hamilton tried to pass Verstappen for the lead at Copse.
Verstappen was sent into the barriers at high speed while Hamilton was punished for causing the accident with a 10-second time penalty, yet still recovered to win the race.
His victory sparked huge celebrations with a capacity crowd at Hamilton’s home race, leading Verstappen to complain that it was “disrespectful and unsportsmanlike” given he was in hospital for precautionary checks.
But Hamilton has reiterated that he was unaware of Verstappen’s trip to hospital at the time and said it was just a spontaneous celebration with the first full crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year.
“I don’t believe our behaviour was disrespectful, but it’s one thing knowing, and then celebrating what happened, and it’s one thing not knowing and celebrating,” Hamilton said.
“And I wasn’t aware. But it’s my home grand prix. And we worked incredibly hard for God knows how long to get a result like that.
“And what a monumental moment it was for us to experience the whole home crowd being there for the first time, obviously since last year was missed.
“Emotions were running high, it wasn’t like an intentional celebration it was just the joy of seeing so many people and so many people celebrating being together and that’s natural emotion. I’m not going to hide my emotions.
“It was an amazing feeling to see so many people.”
Of the exact timeline, he added: “I saw on the screen that he [Verstappen] got out the car and he looked OK and then I was told that he was fine, so I wasn’t aware until the media press pens afterwards that he had visited the hospital.
“None of us ever want to see another driver injured, or in in harm’s way, or put a driver in harm’s way.”
Hamilton was heavily criticised by Verstappen’s Red Bull team after the clash. His move was labelled “desperate” and an “amateur” mistake by Red Bull boss Christian Horner.
Though he was found by the stewards to be “predominantly” to blame for causing the collision, Hamilton says he would make the same move again.
“I would do the move exactly the way I did it last,” he said.
“In terms of how I’ve reviewed it and, and analysed from all my experience, and my experience over the years speaks for a lot, I wouldn’t change it.”
