Lewis Hamilton: Sky Sports F1 expert reveals stewards concern after Azerbaijan GP drama

That’s according to Sky Sports F1 expert Anthony Davidson.

An incident-packed second free practice session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw two cars career off into the barriers around the tight street circuit, while Lewis Hamilton and Magnussen clashed at the close.

As both cars made their way into the pits at the end of the session, Magnussen and Hamilton came wheel-to-wheel at turn 14 with the Brit’s Mercedes car throwing out sparks as the Haas kissed the edge of his front wing.

Magnussen refused to give way to Hamilton despite the world champion heading into the apex with greater speed and the Dane even appeared to swerve to the left as if almost to intimidate the Silver Arrows star into slowing down.

That saw the duo almost come into heavy contact before Magnussen allowed Hamilton to pass before the next corner, although he raised his left arm in his cockpit to demonstrate his frustration.

Later on, Magnussen – who has courted controversy a number of times before – told Danish reporters: There was a yellow flag on that lap, and we’ve been told to abort our laps if there is a yellow.

“And then it was also the end of the session. So I don’t know why he was rushing so much. It was completely unnecessary.”

But Davidson – who drive 24 times in F1 albeit without ever gaining a point – suggested that it was Magnussen who should be taking the blame for the incident.

He does, however, expect both to be at the very least spoken to be by stewards to ensure no more avoidable drama today or tomorrow.

Davidson said while analysing the sequence: “Obviously the drivers can see in their rearview mirrors so he’ll be able to see that Hamilton is there but he moves over as if to say, ‘Don’t even try it’. 

“If we go to the off-board shot, the thing that I find really bizarre is that he’s looking with the head tilted to the inside. 

“He knows that Hamilton is there and he swerves before coming back out and committing to the corner. 

“I don’t get what that swerve is about, before taking almost his normal racing line and catching Hamilton out. 

“The hand goes in the cockpit from Kevin Magnussen, as if to say, ‘Why are you overtaking me?’ But you’re free to overtake. 

“I just don’t know what that swerve was all about before committing into the corner. 

“I’m sure the stewards will definitely be having a close look and a word with Kevin and Lewis after that situation.”

During Sky Sports’ live coverage, meanwhile, fellow expert Karun Chandhok declared: “They were on laps. They were going slowly, just let him [Hamilton] past.

“I don’t get why Kevin seems to get himself involved in trouble a lot in a free practice session when it really doesn’t matter.”

It is not the first time Magnussen and Hamilton have clashed, with the Haas driver having said in 2017 after qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix: “He always gets in the way so it’s not news.”

That was after traffic cost him a shot at starting high on the grid, starting from 13th – one place ahead of Hamilton – and ended three places up while the five-time world champion got up to 7th. 

Magnussen also fumed: “Some drivers just really don’t care. It would be the same when he’s on a good lap in qualifying one day, I’m not going to care. 

“There’s no-one in front of him and he just decides to go really slow in the last sector when I’m on a fast lap. No-one in front of him. There’s not anything illegal in what he does, it’s only a bit disrespectful.”

source: express.co.uk