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Verstappen and Hamilton disagree: 'I dont think we touched in the first corner'

Verstappen and Hamilton disagree: 'I dont think we touched in the first corner'

19-04-2021 14:23 Last update: 15:13
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GPblog.com

The excitement on Imola immediately came to a boil in the first corner last Sunday when Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen entered the first corner wheel to wheel, barely sparing each other in the process. In the post-race press conference the two drivers appear to remember this incident significantly differently.

Asked about the fight in Turn 1 during the FIA post-race press conference, Verstappen states that he doesn't think there was a collision. Hamilton then assures him there was, while explaining, "I think my endplate got damaged. I don’t know exactly."

Verstappen, however, continues to disagree with the Brit, suggesting he will take a look back at the footage. 'I don't think we touched', he concludes.

Two different experiences

Despite Verstappen not admitting it, Hamilton insists there was contact between the two drivers at the first corner of the Grand Prix. Indeed, the Mercedes driver illustrates his start to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as follows: "Max got a better start than me and then I think I was slightly ahead going into turn two but I was basically avoiding us coming together.Of course, we had that touch and I had to use the exit, take those big kerbs but I’m grateful I just got it through it and didn’t damage much more than the endplate."

The Dutchman's experience in the first corners of the race was therefore different to Hamilton's: "I also ended up a bit wider than I wanted and then Lewis was also there but at one point these yellow sausages to yeah. Then I saw Lewis had to go over them."