Feuding Massa-Hamilton clash again
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Shanghai Daily, October 31, 2011
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa said the onus is on Lewis Hamilton to clear the air between the two after they collided yet again in the Formula One Indian Grand Prix yesterday.
The two have crashed into each other in three of the past four races. This time Massa was found to be the guilty party and was handed a drive-through penalty, even though he insisted he did nothing wrong.
The pair exchanged angry words after crashing in Singapore and had not talked since, until yesterday when Hamilton stood beside Massa during a minute's silence then wished the Brazilian good luck.
Massa said that counted for little, and said there will be "nothing from me" to mend fences, leaving it up to the Briton to make the first approach. "He was on my side and he just said 'have a good race'. Its not part of talking or whatever."
Hamilton had hoped their brief exchange after the minute's silence could mend bridges between the two. "There was a one minute silence before the race, I was standing next to Felipe," Hamilton said. "He's not spoken to me for a long time but I made the effort, I put my arm round him and said good luck for the race."
The collision happened on lap 24 of the 60-lap grand prix. Hamilton tried to pass on the inside of a left-hand corner, but Massa moved in sharply and Hamilton crashed into the Ferrari's sidepod.
"Felipe just turned in on me, he didn't give me any space," shouted Hamilton. British comedy actor Rowan Atkinson, 'Mr Bean', grimaced in disbelief and shook his fists theatrically at the screen in the McLaren garage.
Massa was able to continue while Hamilton had to pit with a damaged front-wing. "I tried to overtake but I tried to pull out of it as he didn't give me any space, but we collided," Hamilton said. "It's a disappointing day and my team deserves better."
Massa was out of the race 10 laps later when he ran aggressively over a curb and snapped his front suspension.
