• European Grand Prix
Comments: 43

Hamilton 'didn't leave any room' - Maldonado

ESPN Staff
June 24, 2012 « Button blames bad luck for eighth place finish | Hulkenberg hit by KERS failure »
Pastor Maldonado and Lewis Hamilton made contact on the penultimate lap © Press Association
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Pastor Maldonado thinks Lewis Hamilton should have left him more room after the pair collided two laps from the end of the European Grand Prix.

Maldonado caught Hamilton quickly for third position in the closing stages and looked destined to pass before the pair collided at turn 12. Maldonado had attempted to overtake around the outside of the corner, but Hamilton did not want to yield the position and the pair collided on the apex of turn 13.

Hamilton was pitched into the barriers and out of the race, while Maldonado lost his front wing and finished the race tenth.

"He tried to put me out of the track and he didn't leave any room for us to do the corner side-by-side," Maldonado said. "I jumped over the kerb and couldn't avoid the accident. I don't know why he drove like that, he was struggling too much with the tyres, he was completely lost and at that moment I was gaining at a very good pace."

Maldonado would have secured his second podium of the season had he passed Hamilton cleanly.

"It was disappointing," he added. "We were so strong at the end and at the beginning we were strong but this is racing."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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