LEWIS HAMILTON apologised to Oscar Piastri for their collision during the Italian Grand Prix, insisting it was “totally my fault”.
The seven-time F1 world champion, 38, clipped the Australian, 22, and forced them both off the track while trying to defend his position on lap 41 in Monza.
AlamyLewis Hamilton caused a crash with Oscar Piastri during the Italian Grand Prix[/caption]
GettyHamilton admitted the collision was his fault[/caption]
Hamilton subsequently received a five-second penalty for the incident, although this did not impact his sixth-place finish.
But Piastri, who came home 12th, suffered front-wing damage and was forced to pit for repairs.
After the collision, he told race radio: “He [Hamilton] just turned across me under braking.”
Following the race, Hamilton approached Piastri while the McLaren was still in his car and the pair shook hands.
The Brit, who finished one place behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell, then took full responsibility when addressing the media.
He said: “It was totally my fault. It wasn’t intentional. I went over and apologised to him straight afterwards.
“I got up alongside him and just misjudged the gap I had to the right and clipped him. It could happen at any time.
‘I knew shortly afterwards it must have been my fault and I wanted to make sure he knew it wasn’t intentional.
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The crash saw Piastri pit as he fell out of the pointsGetty
“That’s what gentlemen do.”
Along with the five-second penalty, Hamilton also received two penalty points on his racing license.
This takes him to four for the season – with 12 triggering a ban.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen sealed a record-breaking 10TH Grand Prix victory in a row in Italy.
The Dutchman, 25, breezed to yet another win as he extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to a mammoth 145 points.
Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez picked up second place, with Carlos Sainz third.