Verstappen's Collision Shows That I Am A "small Target".

Lewis Hamilton says his clash with Max Verstappen is proving to be a “small target” for some drivers.

However, Verstappen accused his rival of not wanting to give way to him when they stuck, and Hamilton claimed victory as he failed to give up his position.

When the race restarted on lap seven, the pair collided as they battled for second place. Verstappen tried to get around the outside of Hamilton in turn one, then moved to the inside in turn two, where they collided.

The stewards decided Verstappen was “primarily at fault” for the collision and handed him a five-second time penalty.

Poll: Was Verstappen’s clash with Hamilton justified?

“He didn’t really have much of an opinion,” Hamilton said of the recent run-in between the pair.

“For me, I thought at that moment I had to retire because I felt something, the back didn’t feel the same after that. And for me it was like losing the team one-two and that’s what I think.

“So I was driving on the grass and coming back to the track, and all I could think about was how I could give the team a great result. So for me it’s just like Christmas, it’s not how you fall, it’s how you get up, and I’m proud of the work we’ve all done.”

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Verstappen has had few clashes with other drivers since his title deal with Hamilton fell out last year, making contact on several occasions. Verstappen may have a different problem with him when Hamilton says he’s “not worried”.

“I’m not worried,” Hamilton said. “I think it’s natural to be a bit of a target when the success and the numbers are on your chest. But it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”

Before the pair collided, Verstappen suspected that Hamilton would not give up room in turn two. “To be honest, I turned around and immediately felt that he wasn’t going to leave, so I just went,” he told Sky.

“He left no room for me so I knew we would get together. It cost me the race win, it gave me five seconds. It didn’t matter to my race because we were so slow. But it’s a shame, I thought we could run well together, but clearly the intention was not to compete.

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