Lewis Hamilton accused Mercedes teammate and Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg of deliberately colliding with him and wreaking his Belgian Grand Prix chances on Sunday in order to "prove a point."
The incident took place on lap two left Hamilton with a puncture and ultimately led to the Briton's retirement from the race. Meanwhile title rival Rosberg went on to finish second and extend his lead to 29 points.
Hamilton told reporters that the driver, whose vehicle's front wing clipped Hamilton's rear tire in a failed attempt to overtake, had done it on purpose.
"We just had a meeting about it and he basically said he did it on purpose. He said he did it on purpose," Hamilton said with a dazed look after the race, according to Reuters. "He said he could have avoided it. He said 'I did it to prove a point.' You don't have to just rely on me, go and ask (Mercedes team bosses) Toto (Wolff) and Paddy (Lowe) who are not happy with him as well."
Hamilton added that he was "gobsmacked" while listening to Rosberg during the meeting.
Rosberg, whose relationship with Hamilton has hit the rocks a number of times this season, said to reporters separately that the collision was "a racing incident."
"We had a discussion, as is important after such circumstances, because obviously what happened cost the team a lot of points," said the Rosberg, according to Reuters. "That is the main focus and the biggest issue with such a happening as today," added the Mercedes driver, who stepped on to the podium to boos and whistles from the crowd.
The German refused to go into further details.
Mercedes team bosses were critical of Rosberg's driving and mentioned that he could expect a "stern response."
"You don't try to overtake with the knife between your teeth in lap number two and damage both cars," said Wolff, who described the incident as "absolutely unacceptable," according to Reuters.
Retired triple champion and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda, said Rosberg was to blame because Hamilton was out in front.
"Accidents can happen, and I have foreseen them anyway if two guys are fighting freely all the way to the end, and it is accepted but not on the second lap," said Lauda, according to Reuters. "Why on the second lap? If he wants to pass him he can pass him on the slipstream easily one lap later without danger and without risk. It was not that he had to do it because it was the last corner."
The race was won by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo.
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