Hamilton accuses ‘feeder team’ of delaying tactics

Lewis Hamilton has accused Toro Rosso of employing devious tactics and called for penalties to be applied should they continue.

Hamilton claims Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi deliberately held him up as he pursued Sebastian Vettel over the closing stages of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old believes the duo from Toro Rosso, who, like Red Bull, are aided by energy drinks billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz and are effectively viewed as a feeder team, comfortably allowed Vettel through before slowing him down.

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Hamilton ultimately had to settle for second place at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, just 0.6secs behind Vettel, as he was unable to find a way past in his McLaren.

“I was having to rely on a time when he would catch a back marker, but he was never unlucky enough to do so at the wrong time,” said Hamilton.

“Often some of these back markers, in particular Toro Rosso, would assist with increasing the gap between us, which is interesting.”

Hamilton has concerns they could scupper another race in the future, in particular here in Monaco where back markers play a vital role.

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Hamilton said: “That kind of thing shouldn’t happen because they are not really supposed to be a sister team are they?

“But definitely in the last race there was some of that, all of a sudden moving in my way, causing a bigger gap.

“The gap that I closed to him, I lost. They let him past and then they held me up for the next couple of corners. That wasn’t cool.

“I’m surprised it happened, but then it’s difficult to say because the guys are still doing their race.

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“But it was a perfect situation for Sebastian to make sure he was let through and I wasn’t. If that continues to happen then some penalties should probably be handed out.”

Hamilton has made his team aware of the situation and asked whether there could be trouble in Sunday’s race around the Principality, Hamilton added: “Absolutely. I just hope the stewards are wary of it, and I’m sure they’ll do a great job.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested Hamilton’s remarks are without foundation.

“Believe me, Toro Rosso drivers have often had that complaint from our own drivers as well,” said Horner.

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“You only have to look at last year’s race in Abu Dhabi to see what happened with Mark Webber, so absolutely not, there’s no discussion between the teams.

“The teams operate totally independently. There are no tactics to help one or the other.”

A spokesman for Toro Rosso said: “Firstly, there are no radio links to any other teams. When it became the rule, prior to last season, that you weren’t allowed to share any technical knowledge, all co-operation ceased.

“So the suggestion we would have held up any other car to favour a Red Bull is preposterous, and would never have happened.”