“If He Wants to Prove He’s a Man…”: Lewis Hamilton’s Stormy Response to the Most Controversial Sebastian Vettel F1 Incident

Remember what happened during the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix? Lewis Hamilton was not happy with the way things went down and especially Sebastian Vettel finishing ahead of him. While the F1 world has seen several Hamilton- Vettel moments igniting that classic British -German rivalry, this was a special one.

The 2017 championship was very heated despite Nico Rosberg leaving the Mercedes camp. It was a fierce competition between Vettel and Hamilton, who were the most popular faces on the podium. The race in itself was very interesting, with Baku delivering high-profile drama like always.

Vettel thought Hamilton had brake-tested him under a safety car and ran into him. None of them ended up winning the race, with Ricciardo taking away the Baku title. Later on, Hamilton was told what Vettel said post-race and replied, “Well, I mean if he wants to prove that he’s a man, I think we should do it out of the car, face to face.”

“Uh, I think driving dangerously, which in any way can put another driver at risk. I mean, luckily we were going slow. If we were going fast, it could’ve been a lot worse, you know.”

Read More: Sebastian Vettel Fans Left in Tears Over Triple Digit Price Tag on Latest Handwritten F1 Merchandise

“Imagine what the young kids that are watching Formula 1 today and see that kind of behavior from a four-time world champion…” Many considered Vettel’s reaction as over the top and dramatic back then. He also received a 10-second penalty for “dangerous driving” which also costed him the race.

What happened at Baku 2017 between Lewis Hamilton and Vettel?

So, what exactly happened? The track saw three safety cars disrupt the race. Notably, a safety car was deployed after a Toro Rosso crashed. Though Hamilton continuously reported that it was going too slow, on lap 19, Vettel ran into his car after Hamilton braked. He damaged his front wing and caused slight damage to the Knight’s car.

Getting angry and waving his hand, the driver then rammed his Ferrari into the Mercedes. Later on, coincidentally, the race’s top two had pitted on the same lap, with Hamilton facing a safety issue while Vettel had to serve his penalty. This is how both of them lost the lead after getting stuck in traffic.

Watch This Story: F1 Drivers Fighting on Track

In fact, the high-speed circuit ultimately couldn’t even escape the red flag after two Force India’s also collided and debris was everywhere. So, after reminiscing these moments, who do you think was at fault? Hamilton or Vettel?