Mercedes-Benz’s Norbert Haug has denied that Lewis Hamilton deliberately held up the Ferraris in the opening laps of the Malaysian grand prix.
The rookie Briton’s slower initial pace than leader Fernando Alonso at Sepang, despite later setting the fastest lap of the race, allowed reigning world champion and new drivers’ title leader Alonso to pull out a gap that ultimately proved insurmountable.
It also enticed a frustrated Massa, who a day earlier won the qualifying battle, into launching a failed passing move that relocated him to just fifth at the chequered flag.
But despite team boss Ron Dennis’ hints to reporters after the race that both Alonso and Hamilton contributed “tactically” to the victory, Mercedes competition chief Haug said Hamilton did not intentionally hold up the Ferraris.
The German told ‘Premiere’: “But it is true that the Ferraris could not drive exactly as they had wanted.”
