Lewis Hamilton’s dream run at Silverstone was well and truly destroyed by Kimi Raikkonen yesterday when he caused a collision with the British driver. Hamilton had a slow start, which meant Vettel and Bottas were quick to overtake him. As Raikkonen was doing the same, the Ferrari driver locked his wheels and banged into Hamilton. As a result, Raikkonen got a 10s penalty while Hamilton was at the back of the field.
Although Lewis Hamilton finished second ultimately, it was his arch rival, Sebastian Vettel who took the victory while Kimi Raikkonen finishd third. Hamilton staged quite a drama post race where initially he refused to perform his media duties. He refused the interview post the race and looked visibly upset and miffed. He went on to suggest directly and indirectly that the Raikkonen clashed deliberately with him, as a part of Ferrari’s strategy.
“This is the greatest crowd in the world, and I’m sorry I wasn’t able to bring it home for them. I’ll never give up.” Hamilton said. “The team did a great job this weekend and there’s been a lot of pressure on for us all. Interesting tactics I would say from their side but we will do what we can to fight them in the next”
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For these comments, Lewis Hamilton received quite a lot of backlash from media and people on Twitter. The person leading the backlash was Kimi Raikkonen‘s wife, Minttu Raikkonen who had this to say:
“When you cry like a girl when you lose, do ballet [instead] #JustSaying” on her Instagram story.
Lewis Hamilton has to be one of the most unlikeable people in sport. Walks off to avoid doing an interview after his "home" Grand Prix – 💩 on the people who've paid big money to watch him #BritishGP #Hamilton
— Kevin McQuaid (@kevin_mcquaid) July 8, 2018
Oh, Lewis Hamilton is just an absolute loser! The cry baby didn't even interview and left the scene with his helmet on! #BritishGP
— 𝐓𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐢 (@Ted_Niki) July 8, 2018
After that interview with Lewis Hamilton – I remember why I didn't like him from the start… #BritishGP #britishgrandprix
— Agnel J D'Cruz (@Agnel) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton, a big driver but a small man
— flay (@flay80) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton just did an interview on the podium where all the fans could see him and after more fans had the chance to congregate beneath it. But that won't be the story of course, because it's much juicier to say he stormed out of parc ferme #BritishGP 🇬🇧
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) July 8, 2018
Kimi Räikkönen on Lewis Hamilton's comments: "Everyone has the right to anything (opinion). Sometimes there is incidents. I have been hit many times and the races have gone (badly) for just that reason but thats racing. Of course it's always annoying but it is what it is." pic.twitter.com/oeiyIPYhwu
— Kimi Räikkönen #7 (@FansOfKR) July 8, 2018
And that just sums up why I don't like Lewis Hamilton couldn't even be arse to talk to his fans at the end of the race. Just walk off like a spoilt child #F1
— jase (@jasonpettman) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton is a brilliant racing driver.
But if he wants to be respected and be a British hero then he needs to learn to be more dignified.
Maybe he could take a few lessons from Gareth Southgate. #BritishGP— Blue Mal (@malvince5) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton, you're such a cry baby!
Breaking the post race interview protocol just because you little pussy was feeling angry, doesn't talk to well about your professionalism. More than an F1 driver you're a soap opera star. What a pussy!@LewisHamilton #BritishGP
— Rock Addict (@Fabityboy) July 8, 2018
Politely put, Lewis Hamilton has had a major brain fart to start suggesting Ferrari are deliberately hitting Mercedes drivers.
Why throw millions of pounds down the drain and risk ending your own race while the rival likely completes the race? #BritishGP
— Jack Prentice (@JPrentice8) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton is a coward and a worm with no backbone. An embarrassment to Britain. No character. Awful way to behave after the race today. Immaturity. #f1 #SilverstoneGP
— Wojtek Godzisz (@wojtekgodzisz) July 8, 2018
Dear Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Räikkönen and Ferrari are not that stupid to hit you, to make Sebastian Vettel leads the race. Just accept that you lose on your home race today and don't make any drama.
— Syifa Maulani (@SyifaMaulani7) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton needs to grow up a little bit and stop acting like a spoilt little brat when things don't go his way #f1 #c4f1 #LewisHamilton #Britishgp #LewisHamiltonbadloser
— PennG0VQY (@BrixhamUK) July 8, 2018
That’s called poor sportsmanship by throwing accusations out when he clearly flubbed the start again! It’s called racing, and don’t tell me Bottas didn’t move over for you either! #Weak
— DJ (@DJ6567) July 8, 2018
Lewis Hamilton is a CRY BABY and needs to grown up when Max hit Seb in China he just dealt with it and keep his head down and that’s y he deserves to win the championship and this cry baby so called “best driver on the grid” Lewis Hamilton deserves nothing.
— TreVaughn (@TDavis514) July 8, 2018
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You see @LewisHamilton why I say everytime that you will never be a champion.. Because a champion would have accepted the apology… Here you are just a child.. Be a Man!!! And learn from Kimi to be a gentleman and sportman!! I never ear from you "my mistake"! Respect for Kimi!!
— Giorgio Perlatti 🇮🇹🇹🇭 (@GiorgioSkn) July 8, 2018
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Toto Wolff was also angry with Ferrari. Speaking about the incident, he said, “A racing incident. Unfortunate because Le Castellet first time we got taken out and now it is the second time we got taken out.
“It is a lot of constructor points. In [technical director] James Allison’s words, ‘do you think it is deliberate or incompetence?’. So this leaves us with a judgement.”