The Malta Independent 23 April 2024, Tuesday
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Hamilton overtakes Rosberg on last lap to win Austrian GP

Associated Press Sunday, 3 July 2016, 17:22 Last update: about 9 years ago

Lewis Hamilton won the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday after colliding with Nico Rosberg on the final lap, an incident he blamed on his German teammate.

The two Mercedes drivers touched as Hamilton sought to overtake and Formula One championship leader Rosberg ended up losing his front wing, which caused him to drop back to fourth.

"He made a mistake into Turn 1, went wide, I had an opportunity and I got a run into him," Hamilton said. "I left a lot of room, but he locked up and crashed into me. He was in my blind spot, I don't really know what happened."

"I think he ... had a problem with his brakes but I am here to win, that's all," he said.

Max Verstappen in a Red Bull was second and Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari was third.

Hamilton's 46th career victory cut the gap to Rosberg to 11 points.

"I needed those points, I did everything not to give up and push all the way," Hamilton said.

As Hamilton took the checkered flag, his engineer told him over the radio: "Not the race we were after, but good work."

"I was on the outside, it wasn't me who crashed," replied Hamilton, a three-time Formula One champion who has won the last two titles.

Mercedes had been hoping for a 1-2 finish and team chief Toto Wolff banged his fist when his saw a replay of the incident.

Hamilton was later booed when he climbed on to the podium.

Rosberg and Hamilton have a long history of clashes including a coming together at the Spanish Grand Prix in May that knocked them both out of the race, allowing Verstappen to become the youngest F1 winner.

Rosberg had won the last two Austrian GPs and started from sixth on the grid after a penalty.

Wolff told German television that both brakes on Rosberg's car "were at the end."

"He (Rosberg) didn't give him enough space. It's a pity, it shouldn't happen," Wolff said.

Team director Niki Lauda also blamed Rosberg, saying, "Nico had tried at all cost to prevent Lewis from overtaking with non-functioning brakes."

But Rosberg said that although his brakes had overheated "everything was under control" and that he was "very surprised" to see Hamilton make his move.

Hamilton's third win of the season was also the first race he won from pole. He led early but dropped back to fourth after a messy pit stop that included a slow change of his rear tire.

Both he and Rosberg had to overtake the 18-year-old Verstappen after pitting for the second time.

Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari had his right rear tyre explode as he was leading the race on the 27th lap, allowing Rosberg to hit the front after the safety car phase. Vettel had started ninth, after a five-slot penalty.

Tire supplier Pirelli blamed debris on the track for the blowout.

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