Lewis Hamilton has rejected an offer from Sebastian Vettel to discuss their controversial clash from Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Still feeling agitated after Vettel’s claims he brake-tested the German at Turn 15 before the second safety car restart, Hamilton claims he wants to do all of his talking on the race track.
Hamilton told Motorsport.com: “For me, I’m just going to do my talking on the track, that’s most important for me. I’ve heard of what he’s said after the race and it seems kind of…because I’ve not come out of the race pointing the finger or said anything, it is what it is.
“It happened, I don’t think it was right but the biggest thing for me was that I lost the race through the headrest issue. All I’m thinking of is, get my head together. I want to kill it the next 12 races to go. I want to win the next 12 races.”
Hamilton also still feels Vettel was unsporting and disrespectful with his actions in the race as a world champion, believing it is was a poor example to be setting to younger drivers in junior formula.
“I need some time to reflect on it all, but I think ultimately what happened was disrespectful,” added Hamilton.
“If I had had any ill intent in terms of my driving towards him, brake testing whatever it may be, I still think it’s not deserving of that kind of reaction from someone…that person you do have respect for and always showed it on the track.
“There’s a lot of kids, every other class and category there’s kids on TV watching us and to see a multi world champion who you think would behave better than that. That’s the kind of thing you see in go-karts which you learn from not doing in karts.
“I hope that kids don’t see that in F2 and GP3 and think that’s the right way. Obviously, everyone has their own opinion about certain things but I just hope that youngsters don’t think that…that’s not how you drive. And that’s not an answer to any situation or issue you have anyway.”
