The Maldonado/Hamilton incident was a shocking and rare occurrence where a driver retaliates on the track but it’s not the first time drivers have got revenge during race weekends.
Below are the ten best/worst acts of revenge. Some funny, some dangerous and some just down right devious.
10: Juan Pablo Montoya vs Tony Stewart – 2009 NASCAR Ford 400
Juan Pablo Montoya is well known for his short temper, so when Tony Stewart knocked him off track, it was no surprise to hear that he didn’t take it too well.
After getting back on track, Montoya returned the favour a few laps later, knocking Stewart into a huge spin.
9: Damon Hill vs Michael Schumacher – 1997 Japanese Grand Prix
Whilst in an uncompetitive Arrows, Damon Hill rarely got close to Schumacher in 1997. So when the German came to lap him at Suzuka, Hill didn’t want to miss this rare chance to screw over the race leader.
Hill blocked Schumacher for a whole lap before letting Frentzen, who was in second, straight by.
8: Pastor Maldonado vs Lewis Hamilton – 2011 Belgian Grand Prix
Hamilton made light contact with Maldonado’s Williams at the final corner during a frantic Qualifying session. When the session ended, the pair clashed for a second time with Maldonado turning into Hamilton on the straight, damaging his car.
7: Nelson Piquet vs Eliseo Salazar – 1982 German Grand Prix
Eliseo Salazar got his 15 minutes of fame when he took out race leader Nelson Piquet whilst being lapped. Piquet wasted no time getting his revenge, practicing his Karate moves in the process.
6: Stefan Mücke vs Richard Westbrook -
2011
GT1 Series Silverstone
This one is very similar to the Maldonado/Hamilton incident. Mucke’s Aston Martin was knocked into a spin by Westbrook’s Nissan. Fuelled with rage Mucke deliberately crashed into Westbrook at full racing speed!
5: Sandro Nannini vs Roland Asch – 1994 DTM Singen
4: Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost – 1990 Japanese Grand Prix
3: Joerg Bergmeister vs Jan Magnussen
- 2009 American Le Mans Series Laguna Seca
At the American Le Mans Series finale at Laguna Seca, The Porsche of Jorg Bergmeister and the Corvette of Jan Magnussen were locked in an epic battle for the lead. Going into the final corner Magnussen bumped Bergmeister and looked to be set for victory.
However, during the drag race to the checkered flag, Bergmeister pushed Magnussen into the wall resulting in a controversial finish.
2: Keke Rosberg vs Ayrton Senna – 1985 European Grand Prix
Keke Rosberg didn’t take too fondly to being taken out by Ayrton Senna. Following the incident he pitted and conveniently came out just in front of Senna.
He blocked Senna, which allowed team-mate, Mansell passed for the lead. Rosberg then let Mansell straight past him before continuing to block Senna.
1: Fernando Alonso vs Lewis Hamilton – 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix
Whatever you say about this incident, you have to admit it was bloody clever. Shortly after Hamilton refused Alonso track position, Fernando came in for tyres before his final Qualifying lap.
In a devious act, Alonso waited in his pitbox while Hamilton queued. He had waited the perfect amount of time, giving himself a flying lap as well as stopping Lewis from getting one in. Dick Dastardly would be proud.
via
Got an idea for a Top Ten or want to write your own? Let me know via comments, Twitter or Facebook
