Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

F1: Felipe Massa still blames Kevin Magnussen for German GP crash

Felipe Massa says he still thinks Formula 1 rival Kevin Magnussen was to blame for their crash at the start of the German Grand Prix last weekend

The duo made contact at the first corner, with Massa's Williams rolling after touching the McLaren's left front wheel.

The race stewards investigated the incident and deemed no further action was needed, and later it emerged that only Massa had been investigated for his part in the accident.

But the Brazilian, speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, insists he has not changed his mind about who was at fault.

"Yeah, I think he was a little bit too aggressive," said Massa when asked if he still felt Magnussen was to blame.

OPINION: The real threat young drivers pose

"There were two cars and he didn't even have the line to make the corner so quick because he was completely inside.

"I was very cautious on that corner. I even backed off to let Valtteri to go in front.

"In my car it was impossible to know somebody was there. Impossible. I couldn't see. But he was behind, so...

"How many races has he caused problems in the first lap? Anyway..."

The Williams driver feels the FIA stewards were also wrong for having only investigated him.

"So you see there is a lot to improve even in the FIA," he said.

Magnussen said he was happy to move on from the incident, as the race officials had made their position clear.

"Whoever's fault it was is not something I get in to," said the McLaren driver. "It's up to the stewards to judge.

"He was reported to the stewards, I wasn't, so from their point of view I didn't do anything wrong.

"I'm not sure I would have done anything different. You always learn from these things, whether it's your fault or not.

"I think it's done. We're in Hungary, not Germany anymore."

RIVALS SAY MAGNUSSEN NOT TO BLAME

Speaking during Thursday's FIA press conference, Caterham driver Kamui Kobayashi suggested he felt Massa had to take a bigger part of the responsibility.

"For me Magnussen looks very difficult to avoid [the crash] because he is keeping his line," Kobayashi said.

"It looked as if Felipe is a bit too tight on his line, because if he gives a bit more space I think he could not have the accident.

"For me it is difficult to anticipate from Felipe what he is going to do, and it looked like he suddenly dived into the corner.

"I think Magnussen could have avoided it by braking but it is just after a start and if you brake there he loses a lot of positions.

"But Felipe cannot see in his mirrors, that is the biggest problem."

Force India's Sergio Perez added: "I think it was really, really close at the start of the race and at Turn 1 at Hockenheim it can happen that kind of accident.

"I think Kevin did everything to avoid Felipe, in the end they touch and it was a bad accident for Felipe.

"Who to blame is difficult to say. They both collided but it is difficult to blame someone out of that accident."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Sergio Perez says Mexican GP will not drop off F1 calendar again
Next article American Alexander Rossi joins Marussia F1 team as reserve

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe