Formula E championship leader Lucas di Grassi has branded Jean-Eric Vergne an “idiot” after the two clashed during the first race of the London ePrix weekend.
The two drivers collided towards the end of the race at Battersea Park, with di Grassi’s car picking up front wing damage.
Vergne went on to finish in third place, while di Grassi followed him across the line in fourth, one spot ahead of title rival Sebastien Buemi.
“That just proves how [much of] an idiot he is,” di Grassi said when told Vergne was nonchalant about the incident.
“He is not fighting for a championship, he left a gap. In many, many other cases, he closed the door and I was very fair. When he closed the door I didn’t do anything but at one point he left the door open.
“He was on the outside of the track, I went completely on the inside and he just turned on me. There was nothing I could do to avoid it. There was a wall on the inside and him on the outside, he almost ruined the championship.
“For him, for that to be normal, it doesn’t make any sense. I will never do that to an opponent. I understand him, he has nothing to lose. It almost happened that we lost 10 points today because of this situation. I don’t think it is fair to be like this.”
When asked about the incident by Grand Prix Times, Vergne said: “If he thinks because there are two wheels on my side that I am going to let it go, I am not a beginner and he knows that.”
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