Hamilton draws from Senna in F1 warning over Perez penalty

Lewis Hamilton drew inspiration from three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna when warning against deterring racing in the sport following a penalty in the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint.

The Mercedes driver was battling Red Bull's Sergio Perez for fourth as drivers snaked around Spa-Francorchamps in challenging conditions on Intermediates when making a move on the Mexican on the exit of Stavelot.

Side-by-side through Paul Frere, the duo touched to give Hamilton floor damage and Perez a hole in his sidepod, which ultimately led to his demise in the race.

"It was a racing incident I think, I tried to go up the inside," explained Hamilton when speaking to media including RacingNews365.

"It's tricky conditions out there, we are all trying our best.

"Of course, it wasn't intentional. I went for a gap, he was going slow through [Turn] 14, I went up the inside, more than half a car length up the inside and if you are not going for a gap, you are no longer racing, as Ayrton once said.

"That's what I did.

"When I watched it back, it felt like a racing incident to me. We don't want to be deterred from racing."

Don't really care

Hamilton shrugged off his floor damage to finish fourth and behind Alpine's Pierre Gasly.

But with his five-second penalty, Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were promoted ahead, as well as McLaren's Lando Norris.

"In a race like this, I don't really care too much," insisted Hamilton.

"You don't get many points. It would have been nice to finish fourth but I don't care, I want to win. Fourth and seventh, it doesn't make a difference."