Lewis Hamilton’s display in the Monaco Grand Prix was unbecoming of an ex-Formula One champion, Pastor Maldonado said on Monday after a crash deprived the Venezuelan rookie of his first points for Williams.
“It’s a bit sad but these things happen in races,” Maldonado told state TV in a telephone interview from Monaco.
“What I think is that he (Hamilton) has run a race that is not that of a Formula One champion.”
Maldonado was running sixth in Sunday’s race, with only a handful of laps to go, when McLaren’s Hamilton tried to force his way past on the inside.
They collided and the Williams driver was pitched into the barriers while 2008 Formula One champion Hamilton continued before receiving a 20-second penalty after the race and ending up sixth.
“I didn’t complain, I just finished my race and started to talk to my team about the next race,” Maldonado said.
“If the officials decided to penalise him (Hamilton) it’s for a reason ... it must be fair.”
After Maldonado’s disappointment, Rubens Barrichello took ninth spot to give Williams their first points of the season.
Venezuela’s socialist leader Hugo Chavez sought to encourage the rookie driver.
“Cheer up my countryman! Better days will come, brother. Remember that every start is tough,” Chavez said via Twitter.
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