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Hamilton unhappy after save fuel ‘instructions’

Lewis Hamilton on Sunday was visibly not jubilant as he accepted the winner’s trophy for the twelfth time in his career.

It emerges that the 2008 was unhappy not with teammate Jenson Button’s feisty racing from behind while the pair were running first and second at Istanbul, but the prior “communication” from the McLaren pitwall.

“The communication wasn’t clear for me,” said the Briton, who fought back and re-passed Button after they had been told to save fuel.

“When they suggested ‘save this much fuel’ it was not easy unless I went ridiculously slowly.

“I tried to reach that target and in doing so Jenson all of a sudden appeared from nowhere.”

Button confirmed that his attempt to take the lead from the sister MP4-25 came after he was also asked to save fuel.

“After that (incident) it was back to full save mode for me,” said the reigning world champion.

The Daily Star newspaper interpreted the save fuel instructions from McLaren as a veiled order for the pair to “Cut it out!”

But Hamilton insisted: “We don’t have instructions.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner saw the behaviour of Hamilton and Button as a lesson to his own drivers.

“When drivers are in the same team it is important they give each other a bit more respect and concede if one has got a run on the other,” he said.

Hamilton said he had a front-row seat to Sebastian Vettel’s crash with Mark Webber, and sided strongly with those who put the blame at the young German’s door.

“He did the exact same thing to me as he did to Mark.  It was dangerous.  He was so quick, so aggressive as he tried to turn into me, fortunately I had enough space,” said the Briton.

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