• Canadian Grand Prix

Lauda calls on FIA to act against Hamilton

ESPNF1 Staff
June 13, 2011 « A podium was possible - Petrov | »
Lewis Hamilton sustained damage after colliding with Jenson Button © Getty Images
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Former triple world champion Niki Lauda has called on the FIA to take action against Lewis Hamilton , warning if he is allowed to carry on unchecked then someone could get badly hurt or even killed.

Hamilton's race in Canada may have only lasted seven laps, but in that time he managed to send Mark Webber spinning on the first corner and then collided with team-mate Jenson Button, ending his own race. All this came a fortnight after Hamilton was hit with two drive-through penalties in Monaco for incidents there.

"What Hamilton did there goes beyond all boundaries," Lauda, who was commentating on the race for German TV, said. "He is completely mad. If the FIA does not punish him, I do not understand the world any more. At some point there has to be an end to all the jokes. You cannot drive like this … as it will result in someone getting killed."

Lauda's comments came hours after another former champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, cautioned Hamilton that he had to control his natural aggression.

"I think Lewis is an exceptional talent, a world champion, but sometimes he is too aggressive when he tries to overtake," Fittipaldi said. "It was like that in Monaco with Felipe [Massa], placing half of the car in the sidewalk and putting Felipe in a difficult position, at least.

"I think there has to be a limit for being aggressive, respecting the others and still being competitive. You can be competitive, but you have to respect the others."

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