• Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
    Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
  • Formula One drivers including Lewis Hamilton, centre, and Sebastian Vettel, right, take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Reuters
    Formula One drivers including Lewis Hamilton, centre, and Sebastian Vettel, right, take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Reuters
  • Lewis Hamilton wears a Black Lives Matter t-shirt ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Reuters
    Lewis Hamilton wears a Black Lives Matter t-shirt ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Reuters
  • Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi kneel on the grid ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Reuters
    Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi kneel on the grid ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Reuters
  • Formula One drivers including Lewis Hamilton, centre, and Sebastian Vettel, right, take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
    Formula One drivers including Lewis Hamilton, centre, and Sebastian Vettel, right, take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
  • The Austrian Gran Prix grid before the race.
    The Austrian Gran Prix grid before the race.
  • Parachutists are seen before the Austrian Grand Prix.
    Parachutists are seen before the Austrian Grand Prix.
  • Aeroplanes fly over the track before the start of the Austrian Grand Prix.
    Aeroplanes fly over the track before the start of the Austrian Grand Prix.
  • Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas leads Red Bull's Max Verstappen during the first lap of the race.
    Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas leads Red Bull's Max Verstappen during the first lap of the race.
  • Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in action during the race.
    Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in action during the race.
  • Red Bull's Max Verstappen in action during the race.
    Red Bull's Max Verstappen in action during the race.
  • Haas' Kevin Magnussen in action during the race.
    Haas' Kevin Magnussen in action during the race.
  • McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race.
    McLaren's Lando Norris in action during the race.
  • Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas leads teammate Lewis Hamilton during the race.
    Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas leads teammate Lewis Hamilton during the race.
  • Red Bull's Alexander Albon in action during the race.
    Red Bull's Alexander Albon in action during the race.
  • Kimi Raikkonen's Alfa Romeo is removed from the track.
    Kimi Raikkonen's Alfa Romeo is removed from the track.
  • Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
    Valtteri Bottas celebrates after winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
  • Valtteri Bottas stands on the top step of the podium alongside runner-up Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, left, and third placed McLaren's Lando Norris.
    Valtteri Bottas stands on the top step of the podium alongside runner-up Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, left, and third placed McLaren's Lando Norris.

F1

Christian Horner says F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton should consider changing his track approach

Red Ball chief blames Mercedes driver for knocking his driver Alex Albon out of contention at the Austrian Grand Prix

AFP

July 06, 2020

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Red Bull team chief Christian Horner has urged Lewis Hamilton to consider changing his approach to racing after knocking Alex Albon out of contention in Sunday's action-packed Austrian Grand Prix.

In the aftermath of a tumultuous 2020 season-opener held behind closed doors on their home Red Bull Ring track, Horner pointed at the defending champion's habit of tangling with his London-born Thai driver and suggested he needed to reflect on his racing style.

It was the second collision between Mercedes' six-time world champion and Albon in three races and resulted in a five-second time penalty for Hamilton that cost him a podium finish behind triumphant teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton was the central figure of the weekend in every way as the drivers failed to unify in taking a knee to support F1's anti-racism stance during a muddled group gesture before the race.

"Alex didn't have the straight line speed, so he knew he had, with the grip advantage, to pass him in or out of a corner," said Horner, who added Hamilton owed Albon an apology.

"As far as he was concerned, the job was done. He was starting to look down the road towards Valtteri when Lewis put a wheel on the inside.

"So, I think it is more perhaps Lewis that the questions should be asked on what he would do differently."

The pair were fighting for second place in the closing lap's race, which saw only 11 finishers from 20 starters and three Safety Car interventions following spectacular crashes.

Hamilton's defensive move pushed Albon into a spin from which he recovered, but later engine problems forced him to retire.

The stewards blamed Hamilton for the crash, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said their decision was "not justified" and added the five-second penalty was unfair.

The pair had a similar collision in Brazil last year.

"Why Lewis needed to stick a wheel in there, I have no idea," said Horner.

"It's obviously frustrating for Alex that this is the second time in three races that this has happened to him. It's unfortunate as I think he had a chance to win."

The action returns to the the Red Bull Ring this weekend for the Styrian Grand Prix.