Lewis Hamilton said Sebastian Vettel risked a “big collision” at the start of Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix, as the pair scrapped for position.
Vettel started from second, with Hamilton third, but the Mercedes driver got a better initial launch and tried to draw alongside the Ferrari driver.
Vettel, though, edged across on his Mercedes rival, who backed off, with Hamilton labelling the manoeuvre as “dangerous”; race control opted not to take any further action.
“I actually got a really good start, so I was pulling up to Charles [Leclerc] and Seb is coming across, coming across, coming across,” said Hamilton.
“I’m thinking ‘I’m on the white line, I don’t have anywhere further to go’. And he just keeps coming.
“So I had to avoid crashing with him, going on the grass. Avoid his wheels as well, otherwise, I could have caused a big collision for him.”
On the near-hit, Vettel said: “I didn’t see him. He came after the race as well and asked, but no intention to push him or anything.
“Obviously, as soon as I saw, I obviously got off and I tried to get in Charles’ tow and I checked the mirrors on the right and the mirrors on the left and that’s when I saw Lewis.
“Then, you know, I tried to go right but before that point, I didn’t see him. We see quite well in the mirrors but there is still obviously an angle that you can’t see.”
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