Lewis Hamilton has accused title rival Sebastian Vettel of breaking the safety car rules during yesterday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Article 39.13 of the Sporting Regulations, states that: "In order to avoid the likelihood of accidents before the safety car returns to the pits, from the point at which the lights on the car are turned out drivers must proceed at a pace which involves no erratic acceleration or braking nor any other manoeuvre which is likely to endanger other drivers or impede the restart."

However, Hamilton claims that Vettel repeatedly accelerated and then slowed behind the safety car yesterday, and also during the season opening Australian Grand Prix.

"You are not allowed to start and stop, start and stop," said Hamilton, according to the BBC. "You're not allowed to fake the guy behind.

"If there was not that rule, that's what you'd do because eventually you'd catch them sleeping," he added.

"In Australia he accelerated and braked and I nearly went into the back of him and he did it four times (today), I need to speak to Charlie, because I don't understand.

"I understand he passed it to the stewards but they didn't do anything. They supposedly said everyone was doing it. But we're the leaders and it cascades down, what the first car does everyone does the same thing. That now sets a precedent, and it means everyone who is leading under a safety car can start-stop, start-stop.

"I need to get it rectified when I have the briefing next because clearly they don't care about it," he concluded. "And if that's the case we will see more of it. I will expect it from him next time and I will try to prepare."

Ironically, Vettel made virtually the same accusation of Hamilton last year in Baku, the German claiming that it was Hamilton's tactics behind the safety car that eventually brought on his infamous 'red mist' moment.

Speaking to the media after the race, Race Director, Charlie Whiting denied there was an issue.

"I think they controlled it very well," he said, "but it's up to the leading driver only. Unlike other series they have an acceleration zone, a 300-metre zone where they can accelerate and I do not see any problem at all."

Check out our Sunday gallery from Baku, here.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Trixi, 05/05/2018 4:50

"And I take offense to men...but count me in as one of those pathatic {sic} ones. LOL head held high. He just can't help himself. I think it's because the RBR guys were getting far too much attention. OR, was it Bottas?"

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2. Posted by Editor, 02/05/2018 9:51

"@ FormerF1Fan

F1 has more than enough them tunes at present"

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3. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 02/05/2018 9:45

"Music to my ears, klmn. I know that I must be doing something right when the head-in-sand (and therefore donkey-in-the-air) Hamilton fan boys get all het up and refuse to even contemplate that their "hero" has been directly responsible for four (or is that five?) rule changes, their only recourse being to chant "pathatic (sic) little men". It's got a sort-of ring to it and I quite like it. Can we make a song out of it and get the bling man himself to contribute? Will you split the royalties with me for coming up with the idea?"

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4. Posted by klmn, 01/05/2018 13:27

"The Lewis haters come out again ! Pathatic little men."

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5. Posted by jcr, 01/05/2018 10:49

"The rule states any erratic movements behind the safety car,
One of the classics was for me, was Fuji in the rain, When Hami was leading and Vettal ran into the back of Webber.
If U look at the Video in slow motion, U will see that Hami is suddenly way off the racing line
so Webber Did,t know where he was and lifted, vettal in his back."

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6. Posted by FormerF1Fan, 01/05/2018 8:46

"Aha the biter bit. The very rule that Hamilton's infantile shinanigans caused: '...which involves no erratic acceleration or braking nor any other manoeuvre which is likely to endanger other drivers..'"

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7. Posted by GrahamG, 01/05/2018 5:49

"Of course he broke the rules, he didn't pull over and let Hamilton pass him at the restart. Doesn't he know that no one is allowed to beat the baby?"

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8. Posted by Mad Matt, 30/04/2018 20:25

"I'm no Vettel (or Princess Stampy-foot as we sometimes call him) fan but Hamilton's played the same game. What's it they say about people in glass houses......?

It also seems to me that it's been some years since the FIA could be accused of being on Ferrari's side."

Hamilton claims Vettel broke safety car rules

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