It appears that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen don’t need to be title rivals to collide with each other, with the pair having come together for the first time this season at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The collision at Turn Two has massively divided opinions, with some blaming Hamilton and others Verstappen.
After both getting off the line safely, Hamilton maintained second and Verstappen third on the opening lap.
The pair closed up on leader George Russell as they approached the second lap, after a Safety Car was released following a collision between Kevin Magnussen and Daniel Ricciardo.
READ: ‘That’s how it is’: Charles Leclerc unhappy after Ferrari reject his request
It was at the Safety Car restart that the 2021 enemies came together, after Verstappen reacted to the restart much better than Hamilton.
Verstappen went for the outside line around Turn One, where he did get some of his RB18 ahead of Hamilton’s W13, who remained on the inside.
However, Hamilton then went half a car length ahead into Turn Two, where the seven-time World Champion left the Dutchman with virtually no room.
Verstappen failed to back out, though, resulting in contact between the two.
“He left me no space,” Verstappen immediately said over his team radio.
Hamilton was also straight onto the team radio, stating: “That’s no racing incident, mate.”
The FIA agreed that it wasn’t a racing incident, something they judged the pair’s 2021 collision to be.
Verstappen was awarded with a five-second time penalty and had to pit for a new front-wing, which dropped him to the foot of the field.
The Dutchman was far from pleased at being awarded a penalty, one he’s certain he didn’t deserve.
“Where did they expect me to go? He just closed the door on me,” Verstappen said to his race engineer, after being told about the five-second time penalty.
READ: Max Verstappen shows Red Bull and Sergio Perez who’s in charge
In actual fact, the collision hampered Hamilton’s race more than Verstappen’s, as the 103-time GP winner would’ve arguably won the race had he not dropped outside the top five following the collision.
In the end, Verstappen claimed sixth whilst Hamilton claimed second, where he had a dig at perhaps his fiercest rival ever.
“You know how it is with Max,” Hamilton said when asked about the incident in his post-race interview.