LEWIS HAMILTON apologised to Oscar Piastri for their collision during the Italian Grand Prix, insisting it was “totally my fault”.
The seven-time F1 world champion, 38, clipped the Australian, 22, and forced them both off the track while trying to defend his position on lap 41 in Monza.
Hamilton subsequently received a five-second penalty for the incident, although this did not impact his sixth-place finish.
But Piastri, who came home 12th, suffered front-wing damage and was forced to pit for repairs.
After the collision, he told race radio: “He [Hamilton] just turned across me under braking.”
Following the race, Hamilton approached Piastri while the McLaren was still in his car and the pair shook hands.
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The Brit, who finished one place behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell, then took full responsibility when addressing the media.
He said: “It was totally my fault. It wasn’t intentional. I went over and apologised to him straight afterwards.
“I got up alongside him and just misjudged the gap I had to the right and clipped him. It could happen at any time.
‘I knew shortly afterwards it must have been my fault and I wanted to make sure he knew it wasn’t intentional.
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“That’s what gentlemen do.”
Along with the five-second penalty, Hamilton also received two penalty points on his racing license.
This takes him to four for the season – with 12 triggering a ban.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen sealed a record-breaking 10TH Grand Prix victory in a row in Italy.
The Dutchman, 25, breezed to yet another win as he extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to a mammoth 145 points.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez picked up second place, with Carlos Sainz third.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
