Lewis Hamilton believes Sebastian Vettel was lucky to escape punishment during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the Briton accused the Ferrari driver of breaking safety car rules.
The incident is in light of Vettel’s tactics on the first safety car restart when he slowed considerably before appearing to try and out smart Hamilton with a series of repeated accelerations.
The reigning world champion eventually went on to clinch his first win of the season, with Vettel limping home fourth after suffering from a flat spotted tyre in the latter stages when attempting a pass for the lead on Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
“You are not allowed to start and stop, start and stop,” said Hamilton, who’s victory means he’s now won at every circuit on the current Formula 1 calendar.
“You’re not allowed to fake the guy behind. If there was not that rule, that’s what you’d do because eventually you’d catch them sleeping.”
Hamilton revealed it’s not the first time Vettel has driven dangerously behind the safety car this year after a similar incident in Melbourne. The 33-year-old says he plans to speak with FIA race director Charlie Whiting in Spain to get clarification on the rules behind the safety car.
“In Australia he accelerated and braked and I nearly went into the back of him and [in Baku] he did it four times and I need to speak to Charlie, because I don’t understand,” he added.
“I understand he passed it to the stewards but they didn’t do anything. They supposedly said everyone was doing it. But we’re the leaders and it cascades down, what the first car does everyone does the same thing.
“That now sets a precedent, and it means everyone who is leading under a safety car can start-stop, start-stop.
“I need to get it rectified when I have the briefing next because clearly they don’t care about it. And if that’s the case we will see more of it. I will expect it from him next time and I will try to prepare.”
