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May 23rd
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Massa slams Hamilton after latest clash

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Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has said that McLaren's Lewis Hamilton should have been penalised again by the stewards after his latest clash with the British driver, saying that the FIA needed to "take care" of Hamilton's driving.

Massa and Hamilton fell out spectacularly after they clashed during the Singapore Grand Prix two weeks ago, with the Brazilian confronting Hamilton after the race when the McLaren man inflicted a puncture on him in an ill-judged move.

The pair already had a history together in 2011 after Hamilton collided with Massa during the Monaco Grand Prix.

But although the pair insisted that they were both over the incident, the pair somehow managed to collide again during the Japanese race.

Massa attempted to pass Hamilton early in the race, moving to go around the outside of the McLaren into the Casio chicane, but the McLaren moved over and the two made contact.

And after the race, Massa was back in accusatory mode, suggesting that the stewards should have handed Hamilton another penalty after the 2008 champion escaped without sanctions for the clash.

"They have penalised people for much less this year and this time they didn't do it," the Brazilian shouted at reporters after the race, where he finished seventh.

"It's the second time in a row after the problem in qualifying as well in the last race, and after what happened yesterday. And after many times this year.

"The FIA needs to take care of that. They are the only ones who can take care of that."

Hamilton's defence of the clash was that he had simply not seen Massa making the move, but that defence didn't appear to wash with the Ferrari man.

"I don't care, to be honest, about what he said," he bellowed when told about the wing mirror excuse, "The only thing I care about is what he did. He was so slow in 130R and he stayed on the right-hand side.

"I was much quicker, so I went to the left-hand side and I braked there. I stayed on my line; he moved his car and touched my car. There's nothing more to say.

"For what he says, I don't care. I care about what the federation says and what the FIA does."

In further official post-race comments through the team, Massa said that his car had been damaged in the clash, which hurt his pace for the rest of the weekend.

"My car was definitely damaged by it," he moaned, "When I looked at it after the race, I saw there was a bit of the front wing endplate missing and the floor was not on properly on the left hand side and I could feel it in the way my car was behaving.

"However, I do want to congratulate Sebastian Vettel: he is a great guy and deserves this title and I am very happy for him."

Meanwhile, Massa's team mate Fernando Alonso finished second in the race, ahead of new world champion Sebastian Vettel, and he said that the result was a promising one for the team.

"We had the pace today to fight with McLaren and Red Bull Racing," he pointed out in the post-race press conference.

"It's fantastic podium, it is a good thing for the team after difficult races where we were not so competitive. This podium means a lot to the team and is a big motivation for the team."

He also paid tribute to Vettel, who secured his second title with third place in Japan, saying: "Congratulations to Sebastian! 

"Winning two world titles at his age, in a season in which he has done it all - in qualifying, the races and every other way, so perfectly, is amazing and it is well deserved."

Team boss Stefano Domenicali added: "I wish to congratulate Sebastian Vettel on clinching his second Drivers' title: he has had an incredible season and this fantastic result is well deserved.

"There are still four races to go this season, in which we will do our utmost to achieve the objectives that are still within our reach: winning again, taking Fernando to second in the [chanpionship] and learning as much as possible from this car with a view to 2012."