WATCH: Throwback to Sebastian Vettel's 'disgraceful' efforts to crash with Lewis Hamilton at Azerbaijan GP 2017

The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was packed with chaos, but nothing stood out more than the heated clash between championship rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. During one of the race’s multiple restarts, tempers flared as Vettel’s Ferrari collided with Hamilton’s Mercedes, creating one of the most controversial moments in Formula 1 that season.

The drama unfolded when Sebastian Vettel, running close behind Hamilton, hit the back of the Briton’s car coming out of Turn 15. Frustrated by what he believed to be "brake-testing" by Hamilton, Vettel responded by pulling alongside and swerving into the Mercedes, bumping wheels in an aggressive show of displeasure.

Here is the video:

Seb 💥 Lewis

All friendships have a few bumps in the road#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/clziF6Sifm

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2024

Vettel, adamant that Hamilton had deliberately slowed down, said after the race, "It was very clear... I don’t have a radio to him. If we get a penalty, we should both get a penalty." He explained that Hamilton’s actions were similar to a previous incident at the 2015 Chinese GP and insisted that Hamilton had dangerously slowed down while preparing for the restart.

Sebastian Vettel extended his championship lead!

However, the stewards disagreed. Analyzing the data from Lewis Hamilton’s car, they found no evidence of erratic braking or unusual behaviour, concluding that Hamilton maintained a consistent pace. Vettel, on the other hand, was found guilty of dangerous driving and was handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty. Despite this, the German finished fourth, ahead of Hamilton, and extended his championship lead by 14 points.

Hamilton, clearly upset by Vettel’s actions, didn’t hold back in his post-race comments. "He disgraced himself," said the Briton, calling Vettel’s driving “disgusting” and “not sportsman’s conduct.” Hamilton went on to add, "If he wants to prove he's a man, we should do it out of the car face-to-face."

While the race was eventually won by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, the Vettel-Hamilton clash dominated the headlines. It became a defining moment in the 2017 season, symbolizing the intense rivalry between the two drivers as they fought for the championship. Both drivers maintained that the rivalry remained respectful, but this particular incident marked a flashpoint in their fierce battle for supremacy on the track.