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MONZA. – Sebastian Vettel blamed the victorious Lewis Hamilton for causing the first lap collision that wrecked his hopes of winning Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari.

The four-time champion German said he felt championship leader Hamilton did not leave him enough room when the pair clashed at the second chicane.

The collision resulted in Vettel spinning his Ferrari and damaging the front wing while Hamilton’s car survived undamaged and he went on to win the race and increase his championship lead to 30 points.

“Lewis saw a little bit around the outside, but he didn’t leave me any space,” said Vettel. “I had no other chance, but to run into him and make contact.

“It is a bit ironic that it was that way. I tried to pass Kimi and then he came. I left him space, but it was me who was the one who spun around.

“He didn’t leave me any space. There was no option. I made contact and I was spun around. Then we were at the back and had to come back.”

After calling into the pits, Vettel fought back through the field to finish fourth, partly thanks to Max Verstappen of Red Bull taking a five-second time penalty for a brush with Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.

The result leaves Vettel trailing Hamilton by 30 points in the drivers’ championship with seven races remaining. He said the result was a blow to morale and was especially tough for the fans.

But he added: “It’s not like I won’t wake up tomorrow. It’s deflating, but we couldn’t do it.” – AFP.