Lewis Hamilton has accused World Championship rival Felipe Massa of deliberately crashing into him in the Japanese Grand Prix.
Incident with rival leaves Championship leader in a spin
Lewis Hamilton has accused World Championship rival Felipe Massa of deliberately crashing into him in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.
The McLaren Mercedes driver was disputing fifth place with Ferrari driver Massa when he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre at turn 11 of the Fuji Speedway on the second lap of the race.
Massa went over the left-hand kerbing of the chicane exit before rejoining the track and colliding with Hamilton. The latter then spun and fell to the back of the field.
"He outbraked me, so I didn't get past him on the way in," Hamilton explained.
"I did the corner normally, and he came back very aggressively and hit me. I think that was pretty much as deliberate as can be."
Race stewards later handed Massa a drive-through penalty for his part in the incident.
Nevertheless, after finishing seventh in the race, the Brazilian has cut Hamilton's Championship lead to five points - the Englishman eventually finishing 12th.
Following the race, Massa defended himself against the suggestion that he had deliberately hit Hamilton.
He said: "I have a good relationship with Lewis and would not do anything to destroy something on purpose. Definitely not."
Penalty
Hamilton's race was also compromised by a drive-through penalty he received for a botched attempt to pass Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen at the start of the race.
Having made a slow getaway from pole position, Hamilton was passed by the defending World Champion on the run down to the first corner.
He then attempted to cut inside Raikkonen and re-take the lead but instead ran wide.
Hamilton added he was determined to shrug off his Japan disappointment and concentrate on the season's two remaining races, starting with this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.
"There are positives to take," he continued. "I've only lost two points to Felipe in the Drivers' Championship, so it is definitely not over.
"Now I will forget (the race) ever happened and move forward. We have got two more races to go and my target is still to win both of them.
"I am not happy after a result like today but I'm already getting over it and tomorrow will be another day."
