Lewis Hamilton leads the pack during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone on July 18. Photo: VCG

The Formula 1 drivers championship race was reignited last weekend at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone where home hero Lewis Hamilton took victory.

It was a win that was as vital to his hopes of another drivers crown as it was controversial, coming as it did after a crash where he took out race and championship leader Max Verstappen in the opening lap.

The Dutch driver spoke out about his feelings on social media after he had been released from hospital, calling out Hamilton for "dangerous" driving.

"It was quite an impact at 51G but feeling better," the championship leader wrote. 

"Obviously very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us in any way and doesn't do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track."

Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty but it did not prevent him fighting back to the front of the pack and coming home first at the chequered flag, to his delight and the 140,000 fans at Silverstone.

"Watching the celebrations after the race while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior but we move on," Verstappen added.

'Looked desperate'

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was livid at the incident as it happened and his rage had not died down after the race.

"Lewis [Hamilton] has got more than enough experience to know that is unacceptable," he told Sky Sports. "I'm just very disappointed that a driver of his caliber should make such a move like that. It's dangerous, it looked desperate."

Elsewhere, Horner was even more incensed over what he called "an amateur mistake, a desperate mistake."

"His actions have jeopardized another driver's safety," he said. "Putting a fellow driver in hospital and writing off a car and receiving a menial penalty and winning a Grand Prix doesn't feel like much of a penalty."

There was no such agreement from Hamilton and Mercedes though.

"I was pretty far alongside him, but I could see he wasn't going to back out. But then we went into the corner and we collided," Hamilton said after the race. "Of course that's never the way I want to win a race or just in general to race, but these things do happen."

He added more on social media later on.

 "Today is a reminder of the dangers in this sport. I send my best wishes to Max who is an incredible competitor," wrote Hamilton on Twitter after picking up those vital championship points.

Hamilton seized the lead in the last two laps after overtaking Charles Leclerc on Copse Corner. 

Victory handed him 25 points to Verstappen's zero and reduced the gap to just eight in the drivers' standings.

"I will always race hard but always fairly. My team showed grit and perseverance out there. It's a dream to win in front of my home crowd."

Hamilton's view was similar to that of Mercedes race supremo Tito Wolff.

"It always takes two to tango and these two are not giving each other an inch and it's a high-speed corner, and that's why these things are nasty to look at," the German told Sky Sports.

Lewis Hamilton Photo: VCG

No to racism

The incident at the start of the race was the subject of much debate at the time and since.

Even though the FIA blamed Hamilton enough to hand him the penalty, pundits and commentators disagreed over who was to blame and the intent of the collision.

While the crash has been the subject of much debate, the motorsport world has been united in its stance on the racist abuse that Hamilton received after the race on social media.

Mercedes, F1 and governing body FIA released a joint statement that condemned the racist abuse "in the strongest possible terms."

"These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions," it read.

"F1, the FIA, the drivers and the teams are working to build a more diverse and inclusive sport, and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated."

Wolff also spoke out to condemn the abuse on BBC Radio 4, calling it "not acceptable" and vowing  to "react to it."

Mercedes rivals Red Bull also released a statement to condemn what happened to Hamilton.

"While we may be fierce rivals on track, we are all united against racism," it began. 

"We condemn racist abuse of any kind towards our team, our ­competitors and our fans. As a team, we are disgusted and saddened to witness the racist abuse Lewis endured on social media after the collision with Max.

"There is never any excuse for it, there is certainly no place for it in our sport and those responsible should be held accountable."

Team boss Christian Horner spoke out on his own social media, too.

The Red Bull chief explained that "whilst the rivalry is intense on track for the Championship, highly charged emotions should never cross the line into racist abuse."

The next race in Hamilton and Verstappen's rivalry comes on August 1 at the Hungaroring  circuit in Hungary. 

Hopefully all eyes will be on what happens on the track and not on social media.