25/09/2011
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton exchanged words following today's Singapore Grand Prix after the pair clashed during the race.
The pair were battling over fourth place when Hamilton tagged the back of Massa's Ferrari with his front wing, forcing the Brazilian to limp back to replace his punctured tyre. Hamilton continued for another lap before replacing his damaged front wing.
Stewards later adjudged Hamilton to have caused an avoidable incident, slapping the 2008 world champion with a drive through penalty.
It was the second time the pair had clashed over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, the two almost touching during qualifying. At the time Massa described Hamilton as 'mindless', however the Ferrari driver's temper boiled over after the race.
Massa confronted Hamilton as the Englishman was being interviewed in the media pen after the race. Tapping Hamilton on the shoulder, the Brazilian gave his English rival a thumbs up sign whilst sarcastically saying; "good job, well done".
Hamilton however, was not in the mood for discussion, after responding "don't touch me man", members of the McLaren team quickly whisked him away.
Massa, however, did speak with the media. "He cannot use his mind," he told reporters. "I told you yesterday that he cannot use his mind... even in qualifying, so you can imagine in the race.
"In qualifying he tried to do a Superman on the out-lap, you know? And today he tries to do the same in the race," the Brazilian continued. "He could have caused a big accident. He touched my wheel on a straight... 300 kph, and he punctured my tyres, so he destroyed my race. He paid for that because he had the drive-through, but that's the problem. He doesn't understand even paying for a problem.
“It is important the FIA is looking, and penalises him all the time he is going in the car, because he cannot be thinking about it."
Asked if he had spoken to Hamilton, the clearly angry Brazilian said: "I tried. But he don't listen to me, he don't listen maybe to even his father, so you imagine myself."
Check out our Singapore GP gallery, here.