Watching replays of race highlights in the ante room before heading out on to the podium, as he witnessed the second lap clash that was to lead to Max Verstappen's retirement Lewis Hamilton gestured to the screen and said "dickhead".

At the subsequent press conference a Dutch journo chose to pick up the Briton for his remark.

"If my ears are correct, you used the word 'dickhead' after the race concerning Max Verstappen and the overtake and the contact," asked Louis Dekker. "Is that correct? And more importantly, is there an opinion you have on the contact you had with Max in the beginning stages of the race? Who was wrong, or was it just a racing incident?"

"Can I answer that question?" interrupted race winner Sebastian Vettel.

Told that he could, the German continued.

"I think it's not fair... I mean, I don't know what Lewis did," he began. "We've all been in that situation, we fight someone, we go sometimes wheel-to-wheel, it's close and you have a lot of adrenalin going, do you think comparing to football, if you have a microphone on a football player's mouth, that everything he says is something nice and is a nice message when the guy tackles him and maybe sometimes he fouls him or not.

"So I don't think it's justified to give us these kind of shit questions and making up a story out of nothing, if we are just racing and we are full of adrenalin and sometime we say these things. I mean if I hit you in your face, you're not going to say "oh, Sebastian, that wasn't nice". It's a human reaction.

"Sometimes I feel it's all a bit blown up and artificial if we have these questions, trying to make a story out of nothing. So, it's not personal, don't take it personal. So I think we should cut it right there, so now if Lewis can answer," at which point the Briton made his comment about Verstappen's move not being respectful.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Jet Jockey, 09/04/2018 19:26

"Totally agree."

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2. Posted by Oldbuzzard, 09/04/2018 15:31

" No, Seb was absolutely correct. If one has ever raced, at any level but really raced, you would know what that adrenaline high is like. You say whatever comes to your mind. The question was way off base and should not have been asked in that setting, if at all. Hamilton takes more than his share of criticism for things he says and does off the race track. I believe it’s because his driving is so difficult to criticise. Young Max displays a lack of experience and maturity when he is back in traffic and struggling to make a pass. He looks frustrated and makes mistakes. Two races in a row now. So, I agree, he sometimes drives like a ********."

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3. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 09/04/2018 14:08

"Not every question asked needs answer either."

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 09/04/2018 10:14

"I agree with Seb.
In terms of "that move" by Versappen - he overcooked the corner and had nowhere else to go. As I recall Hamilton was as far over as he could be expected to go. MotoGP fans might compare this to Marquez's various collisions in MotoGP this weekend. Just because you're the pundits' "Golden Boy" it doesn't mean you can ignore the rules of either Sport, or Physics; no matter how good you think you are.
Marquez "sort of" got away with it (he stayed on the bike), Verstappen didn't. so "Dickhead" nicely summarises his performance & attitude.
I remember when a younger Hamilton suffered a similar run of unforced collisions, and was roundly slagged for it. Verstappen will either learn from this experience, or be destined to become yet another promising 'also-ran'

"

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5. Posted by -ape-, 09/04/2018 8:40

"He is right journos are often looking for stories and blow them up and .....have clicks on their sites."

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6. Posted by will vettel, 09/04/2018 7:48

"it appears vettel thought the "********' comment was made in the heat of battle but it was made in the cool down room. I'm a huge Seb fan but i think he got it wrong this time
"

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