Lewis Hamilton has explained why he didn’t overtake rival Max Verstappen when the Dutchman slowed to let him by at Formula 1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Race control instructed Red Bull to hand the lead of the race to Hamilton, after Verstappen ran wide at Turn 2 while attempting to fend off the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen slowed down on the approach to the last turn, however the 24-year-old was hit by Hamilton, who sustained front wing damage.
Hamilton went on to win the race, having been let by a number of laps later, but both were called to the stewards after the grand prix to discuss the incident. No decision has yet been communicated.
The seven-time world champion states he wasn’t told that Verstappen was to let him take the position, but also was wary of giving Verstappen DRS down the start/finish straight.
“There were two scenarios, one it wasn’t clear and two I didn’t get the information,” Hamilton said.
“Then it became apparent that he was trying to let me past, which I guess he had been asked to do, but before the DRS zone.
“That meant he would’ve DRS’d back past, follow me through the last corner and then DRS me into Turn 1. So that was a tactic.
“But the worst part was just the steep, heavy braking that then happened at one point, which is when we collided. That was the dangerous part.
“I felt grateful that I didn’t take us both out. For me, I need to be finishing both races and getting these points. It’s tough to do so with these circumstances. But yeah, I managed to keep the car in one piece.”
Hamilton went on to win the race and secure the fastest lap, meaning both he and Verstappen enter next weekend’s finale in Abu Dhabi level on points in the Drivers’ Championship, with Verstappen ahead on win countback.
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