Lewis Hamilton rejected cases he utilized “dirty tricks” amid the season-finishing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he attempted to win the Formula 1 big showdown.
Hamilton drove gradually trying to permit adversaries to pass Mercedes partner Nico Rosberg, yet the German completed second to secure his first title.
England’s Hamilton, who won the race, said: “I did nothing dangerous so I don’t feel I did anything unfair.
“We were fighting for the championship. I was leading. I control the pace.”
Hamilton was over and over requested by his group to accelerate so Rosberg was not powerless against assault from initially Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, then Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
But Hamilton told them to “let us race” and finally said: “I am losing the world championship so right now I don’t really care whether I win or lose this race.”
He said after the race: “I don’t know why they didn’t just let us race. There was never a moment I felt I was going to lose the race but it is quite clear their thought process.”
Hamilton expected to win the race with Rosberg lower than third to secure the title.
Vettel shut on to Rosberg’s back wing on the last lap yet couldn’t pass.
He said over the radio to the Ferrari team: “It was a tricky situation at the end with Lewis playing dirty tricks.”
Rosberg said the race was “not enjoyable” but rather declined to condemn Hamilton, saying: “That’s a pretty simple discussion. You can understand the team’s perspective and you can understand Lewis’ perspective. That’s it.”
Mercedes group manager Toto Wolff said he had not chose whether to make some type of move against Hamilton for ignoring group orders.
“I need to form an opinion, which I haven’t yet,” Wolff said.
“Undermining a structure in public means you are putting yourself before the team.
“Anarchy doesn’t work in any company but the other half of me says that it was his only chance of winning the championship and maybe you cannot demand a racing driver who is arguably the best out there to comply with something where his instincts cannot make him comply.
“It’s about how to resolve that in the future because a precedent has been set.”
Wolff said the group had requested that Hamilton accelerate on the grounds that their PC models demonstrated the race win was under risk from Vettel, who was on much fresher tires and going over a moment quicker, regardless of the possibility that Hamilton expanded his speed.
