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Sebastian Vettel: Lewis Hamilton should have had Baku penalty too

"I don't think it's right thing l got a penalty & he didn't," says Vettel, as German refuses to say swerve into Hamilton was deliberate

An indignant Sebastian Vettel has disputed his penalty in the Azerbaijan GP and claimed any sanction should have been applied to Lewis Hamilton too.

But Vettel insisted "I don't have a problem with him" and says he will talk to his Mercedes title rival away from the media spotlight after a Baku race in which their hitherto 'friendly' rivalry at the front of F1 2017 took a sour, and potentially game-changing, twist.

Vettel was found at fault for 'steering into' Hamilton after the Ferrari driver drew up alongside the Mercedes to remonstrate with the Briton from the cockpit, having only just hit the race leader up the back.

Hamilton: Vettel driving 'disgusting'

Despite being handed a penalty, and three penalty points on his superlicence, Vettel repeatedly insisted after the race in several rounds of interviews that he had been harshly treated.

"I don't agree with the penalty I got," Vettel told reporters. "If you penalise me you should penalise both of us. If you penalise one you have to penalise both because both were involved.

"I don't think it's right thing l got a penalty and he didn't. The penalty was very harsh."

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Whilst waiting for the re-start under the safety car, Sebastian Vettel hits the back of Lewis Hamilton, then remonstrates with Hamilton by bumping into the

After initially hitting Hamilton's car up the back at Turn 15 while the Briton waited to accelerate onto the long straight as the Safety Car prepared to peel into the pits, Vettel's reaction - and subsequent clash with the Mercedes' front wheel - earned him a 10-second stop-and-go penalty.

But asked repeatedly in his post-race media session if he had driven into Hamilton deliberately, Vettel said: "I drove alongside and then we had a little contact.

"I drove alongside to raise my hand, I just wanted to tell him, because l can't literally tell him, that it wasn't right.

Vettel moved alongside Hamilton because he thought the Briton had "brake tested". He said he did not think his rival had done it deliberately as "I don't think he's that type of guy" - but nonetheless argued Hamilton's driving was still not correct.

"He braked so much that l couldn't… I was braking as soon as l saw but l couldn't stop in time and ran into the back of him," added Vettel. "That wasn't necessary. He needs to understand you can't do that.

"Formula 1 is for grown-ups. The manoeuvre before wasn't necessary and damaged my front wing and think he damaged his car as well. It wasn't the right way to do it - accelerating and then braking."

Despite his penalty and lost track time, Vettel incredibly still finished one place ahead of Hamilton after the long-time race leader lost even more time in the pits while Mercedes replaced the W08's head rest on safety grounds.

Hamilton branded his title rival's conduct "disgusting" after the race and, when asked if he would seek out Vettel to discuss the incident, told Sky Sports News HQ: "I don't fancy seeing him. It might turn into something else".

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Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts on Sunday's hectic and action packed Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

For his part, Vettel said he would be happy to talk to Hamilton but did not think there was now a "big problem" in relations between them.

"I don't have a problem with him. I respect him a lot for the driver he is," he said. "I don't think this is the right time to talk. I will do that just with him.

"I am willing to sort it out with him but l don't think there is much to sort out. I will talk with him when you [the media] are not here. I don't think there is a big problem."

Don't miss the F1 Report: Azerbaijan GP Review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday for the final word on the weekend's action.

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