Road rage: Hamilton's F1 feud with Massa just gets worse

THE inaugural Indian Grand Prix was won, with a sense of inevitably, by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and, as usual, McLaren's Jenson Button, who came second, was the driver who offered the biggest challenge to the World Champion.

But once again the real drama came further down the field and the result was overshadowed by yet another prang involving between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa. The two drivers have now collided a remarkable six times this season.

The latest coming together happened on lap 24 of the race in Delhi when Massa turned in on Hamilton, blocking him, as he attempted to pass the Brazilian driver. The stewards came down on the Briton's side this time and handed Massa a drive-through penalty. Eight laps later the Ferrari driver was forced to retire.

Hamilton’s car also suffered and he had to pull into the pits for a new front wing. He ended up finishing a disappointing seventh and is now fifth in the drivers' championship, 38 points behind his team-mate Button.

Hamilton and Massa are now at daggers drawn and The Guardian reports that the two drivers have been ordered to patch things up by their teams. McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "They have to sort it out. They've been coming together too frequently. Clearly Lewis and Felipe are magnetic." His opposite number at Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, agreed with the magnet analogy, but asked: "Who is the plus and who is the minus?"

The pair's efforts to reconcile have fallen on stony ground so far. Hamilton claimed he had tried to talk to Massa at the start of the race, wishing him good luck after the minute's silence to remember fellow racers Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli, who were killed in accidents this month. Massa was unimpressed. "This is trying to what?" he asked. "'Have a good race' is not part of talking or whatever."

Afterwards, Hamilton, enduring his worst season so far in Formula One, left the circuit before completing his media commitments, according to The Daily Telegraph. But he did have time to wearily tell the media: "I just can't apologise enough to my team for the negativity that surrounds me nowadays."

CRASH COURSE:

Monaco, May 29. Massa retires after a collision with Hamilton. The Briton, who also clashed with the Brazilian during qualifying, is unhappy. "He turned in to me, I got the penalty". He also ended up in hot water for asking the stewards "is it cos I'm black?"Silverstone, July 10. The pair touch on the final lap of the British Grand Prix. Hamilton loses part of his front wing but holds on to finish fourth. Before the race Hamilton had been told by Massa to "calm down".

Singapore, Sept 24. Both drivers are held up by slower cars during qualifying and go wheel to wheel in the chicane as Hamilton barges his way past Massa, who comments: "He didn't use his mind."

Singapore, Sept 25. Hamilton crashes into the rear of Massa's Ferrari and is given a drive-through penalty. After the race Massa grabbed Hamilton and sarcastically said "well done, very good pal." Hamilton responded: "Don't touch me, man."

Japan, Oct 9.  The pair come together in the chicane as Massa tries to pass Hamilton.

India, Oct 30. Massa gets a drive-through penalty for blocking Hamilton as he tries to pass. ·