RACE REPORT
On the re-start Hamilton kept his lead
but Vettel came under heavy pressure
from Perez who drew alongside the
Ferrari. Vettel protected the line well,
however, and kept second place.
Within seconds, though, the Safety
Car was again deployed, this time to clear
debris at several locations on the track,
and cars were directed through the pit
lane as the wreckage was removed.
Just before the Safety Car left the
track again at the end of lap 19, the key
incident of the race unfolded.
Hamilton slowed dramatically to back
up the field and Vettel ran into the back of
the Briton’s Mercedes. Vettel responded
by running alongside Hamilton and
banging wheels with the Mercedes man’s
car.
Then, as the racing resumed, Vettel
was attacked again, not just by Perez, but
also by Massa and Ocon.
The Brazilian got past Perez and
tried to pass Vettel down the inside. Vettel
again resisted and held P2 but Massa’s
move dropped Perez into the clutches of
Ocon who tried to pass his team-mate.
The team-mates collided and Perez was
forced to the pits where it looked like he
would retire.
Caught up in the mess was
Raikkonen. The Finn ran over the debris
from the Force India collision and suffered
a right-rear puncture. By the time he made
it back to the pits his car had sustained too
much damaged and it looked like he too
would be forced out of the race.