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Hamilton slams FIA for unfair treatment after Vettel’s two moves in braking zone

Utkarsh Bhatla
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Hamilton slams FIA for unfair treatment

Lewis Hamilton has called out the FIA in the driver’s press conference before the Japan GP, after the incident with Sebastian Vettel during the Russian GP, wherein the Brit almost rammed into Vettel’s back, following the German’s double move in the braking zone on Turn 2.

The incident was investigated by the stewards but they deemed the move from Vettel to be within the laws of the sport.

“Vettel’s move did not constitute two significant changes in direction” the stewards had said.

Hamilton has absolutely blasted the FIA for having double standards when it comes to enforcing rules, as the replays clearly suggested to Hamilton that it was a two step move from Vettel.

“The same rules are not always applied to certain things,” he said at the Japanese GP press conference.

“As far as I’m aware when I drive down the straight I’m not allowed to move twice. But there are drivers that do move twice and nothing happens to them. And maybe there are some drivers that move twice and something has happened to them.

“I was really surprised when I watched the replay because it was really clear, the two-step move.” he added.

Hamilton though was happy that the duo did not crash, as the he thought that it was race over.

“It’s difficult to realise, we were doing two hundred and something miles per hour and things happen so fast at those speeds,” said Hamilton.

“I thought we were going to crash.

“I was really shocked that when I pulled out of it I was able to keep the car in one piece and we made it to the second corner and it actually ended up being awesome racing. But I thought in the moment my wing’s definitely going and I might be going in the air.” he added.

Charlie Whiting expressed his views on the entire incident and what the stewards’ view of the Vettel move was.

“How I see it doesn’t really matter, it’s how the stewards see it, of course,” Whiting said.

“I think they felt that in all reality it didn’t constitute two changes of direction which is what the regulations require for a penalty. So I think they took a slightly lenient view on that.

“I think their decision mentioned something that is was one change but with a little hesitation in the middle. We’re more used to seeing a direction change [one] way then a direction change the other way. It was a little new to see that. I think at the time Lewis was a little perturbed by it.” he added.

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