Lewis Hamilton is “not concerned” about racing against Max Verstappen in future despite the two clashing in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
After a red flag on the opening lap in Sao Paulo, the restart saw the two familiar foes make contact heading into the second corner, forcing both off the track.
The incident dropped Hamilton from second to eighth, while Verstappen required a new front wing.
The world champion was handed a five-second time penalty for his part in the crash, which was reminiscent of a number of battles between the pair in their thrilling title battle last season.
Lewis Hamilton do Brasiiiiil! 🇧🇷@LewisHamilton‘s P2 drive earns him #F1DriverOfTheDay in Sao Paulo 👏#BrazilGP #F1 @salesforce pic.twitter.com/Xjvx9daXwp
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 13, 2022
Verstappen blamed his rival after the race, which Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell went on to win while the seven-time world champion followed up in second to earn a Mercedes one-two.
“It cost him the race win and it gave me five seconds,” Verstappen told Sky Sports. “It wouldn’t have mattered anything for my race.
“I thought we could race quite well together but clearly the intention was not there to race.”
Hamilton responded in the post-race press conference, saying: “I am not concerned.
“I think it’s natural when you have the success and the numbers on your chest that you become a bit of a target.
“But it’s okay, it’s nothing that I’ve not dealt with before.”
The clash with Hamilton was not Verstappen’s sole controversy from the race, after he refused to hand sixth place to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who called Verstappen’s decision “disappointing” with the Mexican battling Charles Leclerc for second place in the drivers’ championship.