BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) – The gloves are off between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, and Formula One is already the winner.
After so much talk of mutual respect, their previously harmonious relationship melted in the heat of Sunday’s hectic Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hamilton said Vettel “disgraced himself’’ by deliberately driving his Ferrari alongside and swerving it into the side of him. Vettel, who was given a time penalty, said he only did it in response to a dangerous braking move by Hamilton right in front of him.
Whatever the arguments, F1 finally has what it craves: a saga between fiercely competitive champions that promises to last all season.
“Now we have a situation where there is more controversy. It was clear this could happen the closer it gets,’’ Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff said. “(It) certainly doesn’t help their relationship going forward. So now the gloves are off.’’
Hamilton and Vettel have won a combined seven F1 titles and more than 100 races. Vettel has four of those titles, while Hamilton has three. But the British driver has won more races, 56 to 45.