By Simon Cass
Last updated at 3:33 PM on 31st October 2011
The expression of rubber-faced comedian Rowan Atkinson, watching from the McLaren garage, summed up what all concerned were feeling as Lewis Hamilton collided with Felipe Massa yet again.
At times this season, Hamilton's driving has been more akin to that of Mr Bean behind the wheel of his clapped out, lime green mini than that of a Formula One world champion.
But in this latest coming together with Massa, it seemed the Ferrari driver was carrying out a plan so cunning that Blackadder could have devised it. A revenge attack for their previous on-track spats which required Hamilton to make an extra visit to the pits, meaning seventh place was the best he could manage.
Bean here before: Rowan Atkinson reacts to Lewis Hamilton's crash (above) and with the driver (below)
Such a notion was flatly denied by Massa after the inaugural Indian Grand Prix — a race which he failed to finish due to broken front-left suspension — even though the stewards handed him a drive-through penalty for snapping Hamilton's front wing as his rival tried to overtake on lap 24.
'My view is that I braked later than him, I was in front and I was in the grippy area. I didn't see him and then I started to turn,' explained Massa, who was left mystified by the decision of the stewards.
Despite looking in his mirrors three times before the contact, Massa insisted it was nothing personal. 'I am supposed to back off and let him by, no?' questioned the Brazilian.
'What else could I do? It's the umpteenth time that Hamilton runs into me this year and it seems it's some sort of fatal attraction. If it is Lewis, if it is not Lewis, I would do the same. I don't have anything against him. Nothing. Zero.'
Even so, Massa still gave short shrift to an arm around the shoulder and a goodwill message before the race from Hamilton after a minute's silence to honour the tragic passing of Dan Wheldon, the British IndyCar driver, and MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli.
Paying their respects: Drivers and fans held a moment of silence for recently deceased Indycar driver Dan Wheldon and Moto GP rider Marco Simoncelli
'He's not spoken to me for a long time but I made the effort, put my arm around him and said "Good luck for the race",' said Hamilton.
Asked for Massa's response, Hamilton added: 'He gave me a really small acknowledgement, which was to be expected. In the race I tried to overtake but I tried to pull out of it. He didn't give me any space but we collided.'
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh talked of a 'magnetic' attraction between the pair and hinted that it would be best for the warring duo to sit down and thrash out their differences.
Crunch: There were a number of collisions on the first corners of the race
'They've got to figure it out for themselves,' he said. 'Felipe is under enormous pressure within that team and that causes him to react and, in truth, Lewis will be feeling under pressure because of the great performances of Jenson Button at the moment.'
Button's second place at the Buddh International Circuit should not be lost in the dust cloud of his team-mate's troubles, or the one that swirled across the track in the outskirts of Delhi. Having nipped inside Fernando Alonso at the first corner, Button out-braked Mark Webber at turn four to move from fourth to second on the opening lap.
The 2009 world champion then left Webber trailing — an even more regular occurrence than Hamilton's ding dongs with Massa this season.
There was, of course, another recurring theme — that of pole position followed by a start-to- finish win for Sebastian Vettel.
Glum: Hamilton had another frustrating afternoon in India as he had to settle for seventh place
So comfortable was the back-to-back world champion's afternoon that his only worry was whether he had set the fastest lap on the 60th and final circuit.
Two more wins in Abu Dhabi and Brazil and Vettel will equal Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a season, which many believed would never be matched.
Not many would have believed Hamilton could have endured such a tumultuous season, either. On the advice of his team, his media activities did not go beyond post-race television interviews.
Should he have been allowed a debrief with Atkinson, no doubt he would have got a sympathetic ear.
After all, the comedian knows all about crashing expensive McLarens.
Little Master: Sachin Tendulkar waves the chequered flag (above) as Vettel celebrates his win (below)
The more reads and sees of Hamilton, he would make a good book end.
- Just Jack, Liverpool UK, 31/10/2011 17:28
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