Italian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton has expressed his surprise at Sebastian Vettel's decision on the opening lap to leave the door wide open for him to attempt at overtake at the Variante della Roggia chicane.
Hamilton was able to overtake Vettel on the opening lap as the Ferrari driver opted not to defend the racing line and instead went on the inside, allowing the Briton to drive around the outside before the pair clashed as Vettel suffered from understeer and ran into the side of the Mercedes.
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"It was intense. A bit surprised Sebastian chose the inside and not to go through the outside of Kimi [Raikkonen] – that was my opportunity.
"I stuck it down the outside and had to make sure I was far enough alongside. I thought there was enough space between us and I think ultimately, I am guessing he maybe locked up, I don’t know, we touched it was a brief moment."
Although Vettel was of the opinion Hamilton didn't leave him enough room, Hamilton insists he did and it was a racing incident – a view the stewards took in opting not to penalise either driver.
"I think it was a racing move. It was pretty much the same manoeuvre that Kimi did to me. I don't really know what to say. It was a racing manoeuvre and that's what we are supposed to be doing out there.
"I left him space, I was still on track. But I'm sure it was a comment that was done in the heat of the moment and its never a great moment when you spin and you have cars coming towards you. Then you get back up and you have to come back through.
"I don't take anything from it and I know how it is to be in that emotion and I'm sure he didn't really mean too much by it."
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