Hamilton in the thick of it once again after double race impact

Just two weeks ago in an action-packed Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton was given two drive-through penalties for causing collisions with Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado.

There was no sign Hamilton had learned his lesson in yesterday’s Canadian Grand Prix which started after four initial laps behind the safety car due to a wet track.

The 26-year-old first tagged Red Bull’s Mark Webber in the opening series of corners, sending the Australian into a spin.

Then just under three laps later, Hamilton committed the cardinal sin of motor racing when he was involved in a shunt with his team-mate.

Lining up Button down the finish straight, Hamilton pulled out to pass, at which point the former had started to drift across onto the racing line.

It resulted in Button squeezing his team-mate against the pit wall, the left rear wheel of Hamilton’s McLaren hitting the concrete and puncturing his tyre, eventually forcing him into retirement.

“It was tricky conditions, I was doing the best I could to keep the car on track,” said Hamilton.

“I think I had pretty good pace, and whilst I fell behind Jenson, he made a mistake out of the last corner and I got the run on him.

“I think he outbraked himself going into the last chicane, and he got a pretty poor exit.

“Going down the straight, I felt I was halfway up the outside of him, but he kept moving across. Whether or not he saw me I don’t know. There was no room for me, no run off and I was in the wall. It was kind of lucky it didn’t take both of us out.”

Asked if he felt Button’s move was intentional, Hamilton replied: “I don’t think so, I know Jenson quite well. He wouldn’t do that.

“I thought I was alongside him, but it doesn’t matter now. This is racing. I’m sorry for the team, they’ve worked so hard this week, and I could have done with the points.”