Hamilton needs to question approach after Albon clash - Horner

Red Bull Formula 1 team principal Christian Horner believes Lewis Hamilton is the driver who needs to question his approach to racing after his latest clash with Alex Albon during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Hamilton and Albon came together late on in Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring as Albon attempted a bold around-the-outside pass on the second-placed Mercedes driver.

Albon was sent spinning into the gravel and later retired with technical issues, while Hamilton was handed a five-second time penalty after the stewards judged the six-times world champion was predominately to blame. He subsequently dropped from second on the road to fourth after the post-race penalty was applied.

It marked the second time in three races the pair have collided after Hamilton punted Albon out of podium contention in a similar incident during last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Asked what advice he would give Albon the next time he battles Hamilton, Horner replied: “Probably be careful!

“Alex didn't have the straight-line speed, so he knew he had, with the grip advantage, to pass him in or out of a corner.

“As far as he was concerned, the job was done. He was starting to look down the road towards Valtteri [Bottas] when Lewis put a wheel on the inside. 

“So I think it is more perhaps Lewis that the questions should be asked on what he would do differently.”

History repeats itself for Albon and Hamilton#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/3FR1oxG2cd

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2020

Albon had described their Brazil clash as a “fifty-fifty” incident but was left convinced that Hamilton was fully in the wrong this time around, saying it was “up to him if he wants to crash or not.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reckoned Hamilton’s penalty was “too harsh”, but Horner felt Albon was the innocent party.

“Alex had won the corner, and he was on the exit of the corner,” he explained.

“Why Lewis needed to stick a wheel in there, I have no idea. It’s obviously frustrating for Alex that this is the second time in three races that this has happened to him.

“It was unfortunate, because I think he would have had a chance to win the race.”