Lewis Hamilton labelled a ‘fair competitor’ despite latest mistake

Lewis Hamilton may have cost Oscar Piastri a points-scoring finish last time out in Monza, but Andrea Stella says he has the team’s “respect” for his quick apology.

In what Hamilton has since called his “worst race” of this season, the Mercedes driver crashed into Piastri at the Italian Grand Prix as the two fought for position.

Chasing down the two McLarens, Piastri was Hamilton’s first target with the Briton making his move into the Della Roggia chicane.

一个dditional reporting by Thomas Maher

McLaren team boss feels Lewis Hamilton took ‘too much risk’ in Monza collision

It, however, didn’t go to plan as Hamilton made a misjudgement and hit the McLaren, leaving Piastri with a broken front wing while Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty for causing a collision.

While the seven-time World Champion went on to score points in sixth place, Piastri wasn’t able to recover from his unscheduled pit stop for repairs and crossed the line in 12th place.

Hamilton was quickly over to the Aussie to apologise, admitting it was entirely his fault.

一个nd although McLaren team boss Stella feels the Briton took an unnecessary risk for which his driver paid the price, he was nonetheless appreciative of his apology.

“I think maybe Lewis got a little frustrated because in reality, I think Lewis would have overtaken Oscar – if not there, he would have taken up the next opportunity,” Stella told the media including PlanetF1.com.

“There was no need to take too much risk for Lewis because he had the pace to overtake with more margin.

“But Lewis is a fair competitor, if he apologises it shows his qualities as a competitor and as a person and he definitely has our respect.”

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Piastri接受了汉密尔顿的道歉,说he’s “still on” his Christmas card list, while Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolffapplauded his driver’s sportsmanship.

“He’s very sportsmanlike with these things, and he is the only one that I see out there admitting and saying: ‘I got this wrong’,” Wolff said.

“We just had a chat and [he said] he didn’t see him on the right and: ‘It goes on me.’

“I think that kind of sportsmanship is what you need to admire with him, as pretty much everyone is always complaining and moaning just to try to not gain a penalty.”

一个side from his in-race penalty, Hamilton’s antics at the Italian Grand Prix alsoearned him two penalty pointson his FIA super licence bringing his tally to four.

一个ny driver who receives 12 over a 12-month rolling period is hit with an automatic one-race ban.

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