Sebastian Vettel says title rival Lewis Hamilton "quite obviously" brake-checked him during the second restart for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Vettel ran into the back of Hamilton's Mercedes, claiming the incident was caused by the Briton braking unnecessarily, but Vettel then proceeded to drive alongside Hamilton and deliberately drive into the side of the silver car in an act of revenge.
Vettel was handed a 10-second stop/go penalty for the incident but still finished ahead of Hamilton after the three-time champion was forced to make an unscheduled stop for a loose headrest.
"I don’t think so, I think it was quite obvious," Vettel replied when asked if he thought Hamilton had deliberately brake checked him.
"I don’t run into the back of him on purpose, I damaged my wing, he had a little damage as well, nothing that would have impacted on the race.
"It’s just not the way to do it, he’s done it a couple of times. After his restart was really good he surprised me and jumped me, so I don’t think it was necessary. The problem is me behind getting ready and all the other cars, but the problem is there’s then a chain reaction and he’s done something similar a couple of years ago in China at the restart, it’s not the way to do it."
When asked about his deliberate contact, Vettel replied: "I think it was very clear, I think in the end we are racing with men, I don’t have radio to him but I think if I got a penalty we should both get a penalty."
When suggested their friendly rivalry will now turn sour, Vettel insisted he has no problem with Hamilton, but questioned why only he was penalised.
"It's still respectful, I don’t have a problem with him, it’s just one action today was wrong.
"I think if I got penalised he should get penalised, probably every Sunday in premier league you get refs blowing the whistle, and some players agreeing and some disagreeing, that’s sport at the end of the day, but 10s is an awful long time when you stand there with nothing to do."
