Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Q & A: Felipe Massa on Lewis Hamilton clash in Indian Grand Prix

Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton came together for the sixth time this season in the Indian Grand Prix

In previous incidents, it has been Hamilton who has received the lion's share of criticism and sanction, but in India the stewards gave Massa a drive-through penalty - a decision the Ferrari driver vehemently disagreed with.

AUTOSPORT was there when Massa gave his side of the story afterwards.

Q. What is your view of the Lewis incident?

Felipe Massa: My view is that I was in front, I braked later than him and I was in front, I was on the grippy area as well and then I started to turn and I didn't see him on the left as he was behind. He touched my rear wheel. So, to be honest I don't understand why I have the penalty. It is not really understandable.

Q. This is six incidents between you two now. Is it now a feud?

FM: Maybe for him. Because all the incidents are that he touched my car. So, I didn't do anything wrong. When I saw that he put the car on my side, what am I doing? It was very dirty in his place, so I braked on the clean side, the grippy side, I brake later than him and I start to turn and he is behind me.

If it is Lewis or not Lewis, whatever the driver is there, I would do the same. I am on the good grip. Whoever is trying to overtake in that place he will brake later than me and I cannot do anything, but in this case I braked, I was in front of him and he touched me behind, so it is nothing to do with [it being] him, it is something... he touched me.

Q. He said he tried to bring an end to hostilities after the minute's silence?

FM: No, he didn't try. He didn't try to do anything. When I tried to speak to him he passed through. He did not look to my face, so no. Not here. Here after the one minute silence he was at my side and then he just said, 'have a good race'. So this is trying to what? Have a good race? Is that not part of talking, or whatever?

Q. You say you didn't see Lewis, but watching the replay since it seems to indicate you looked three times in mirrors?

FM: I know he was on my side. But when I braked, this is the important place, not when you are on the straight. When I braked, he was not on my side. So, I turned because I braked later than him. I cannot understand why I am supposed to back off and let him by, no? I braked later. He was on the dirty side. And then I turned and he touched me from behind. He did not touch on my side, or wheel-to-wheel. If it was wheel-to-wheel I would not try to close the door.

Q. Why did you see the stewards?

FM: The explanation is that they say when Lewis went on your side, you went to the right, and I said yes because I went to the grippy place. This is the only explanation they gave me because they were not so sure as well.

Q. Every time there are incidents with Lewis, there will obviously be questions. What can be done to sort this out?

FM: To be honest, it is nothing from me and myself. When I felt it was already too much, what he was doing, he didn't want to speak. So for me, nothing.

Q. Why so much bad blood between you and Lewis?

FM: I don't have anything against him.

Q. So what will you say if you meet him?

FM: If I saw him I would tell you what I am telling you now... I don't have anything. I have nothing against him. Zero. Zero.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Felipe Massa says he cannot understand why he was penalised for Lewis Hamilton clash
Next article India Sunday quotes: McLaren

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe