The former F1 title rivals came to bl🐼ows in the closing stages of SQ1 in Saturday morning’s Sprint Shootout as they jostled for track position with the clock ticking down. 🧸;

Hamilton, who was preparing to start his final flying lap, appeared to impede Verstappen at the final corner. ꧑Verstappen t🥃hen overtook Hamilton on the main straight and compromised the Mercedes driver’s exit from Turn 1. 

Seven-time world champion Hamilton saw his final la🀅p ruined and was eliminated in 18th, while Verstappen went on to claim pole for the sprint race, which he won. ♔;

“He blocked me int▨o the last corner, so I had to brake more and I lost like three tenths,” Verstappen replied when asked to explain the incident following his sprint race triumph. 

“So that wasn’t ideal, and I think𓃲 not correct.&ꦰnbsp;

“There was still a few seconds left on the clock so I didn’t know if my lap 🎀time was going to be safe and I wanted to continue. 

“But ran out of time, space, with the two cars like that, whiꦉch was a bit ไof a shame.”

Analysing the 🀅incident after the Sprint Shootout, Sky F1’s Anthony Davidson said: “You’ve got Verstappen on the other side, he’s on a flying lap and coming up on Lewis as Lewis is slowing down. 

“So [Lewis] definitelᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚy gets in the way of Max going into the corner. 

“But then the slot gap opens on the DRS to prove that Lewis is starting a fast lap. Max puts his hand up to say ‘what arꦫe you doing at the final corner?’

“And then gives what he had at t🌼he final co💙rner to Lewis in Turn 1. So Lewis then has to put the car into the charge mode and immediately bailing that lap. 

“A little bit of argy ba♏rgy going on between them. Lewis carries on and tries to find track position but realises he’s running out of time. 

“I t🦋hought he was in more traffic but as it turned out he was trying to find some more track position but couldn’t fin it, so big frustration there for Lewis.”