New Delhi : Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa collided once again on the racetrack during the inaugural Indian Grand Prix here Saturday.
McLaren-Mercedes’s Hamilton hit Massa’s Ferrari when trying to pass for fifth place but this time Massa was punished and ultimately dropped out of the race after damaging his front left suspension on a kerb. Hamilton finished seventh.
The arch rivals, this season, have clashed six times in 17 races. The last time the two ran into each other was in Japan.
Hamilton had found himself in a spot of bother with the stewards for clashes with Massa in Monaco and Singapore.
This time the stewards penalised Massa, whose car survived with minimal damage while Hamilton had to collect a new front wing and fresh tyres. The Brazilian was handed a drive-through penalty for causing a collision.
Trouble began at lap 24 when the two drivers came in contact. Hamilton had a run alongside Massa going into the corner but Massa turned in on him resulting in a collision. Hamilton took a pit stop for a new front wing while Massa continued.
On the radio, Hamilton claimed: “Felipe just turned in on me!”
The Brazilian later retired with a broken front left suspension after running heavily over a raised orange kerb. He had done the same thing in qualifying Saturday.
IANS
