Despite the best efforts of the British and Dutch media to create something out of last weekend's clash during the opening laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have thwarted their bid to create a war of words by publicly shaking hands.

In the wake of the incident at the start of the second lap, which saw the pair collide and resulted in Verstappen's subsequent retirement as a result of accident damage, Hamilton was heard to mutter the word "dickhead" as he watched a replay before heading out on to the podium.

Picked up by a Dutch journo at the subsequent press conference, Sebastian Vettel leapt to the Briton's defence, insisting that such comments are often made in the heat of the moment and that it was nothing personal.

In the days that followed, Verstappen played down the incident and the comment, as did Hamilton.

However, with the Dutchman centre stage at today's official press conference, journalists repeatedly attempted to draw him on the issue, though he refused to rise to the bait, insisting that "these things happen".

Though his subsequent response, when asked why he felt Hamilton had criticised, was to say that "it's quite easy and simple to blame the younger driver", was seized upon for clickbait purposes, Verstappen and his Mercedes rival had soon deflated the situation by shaking hands in the paddock.

"Being that I'm the older driver I felt that it was important that I went to him," Hamilton subsequently told reporters when asked about the initiative. "I shook his hand and I was like, 'Look I'm sorry about the last race'.

"Regardless if it is his fault or my fault, it's in the past," hew added. "Hopefully, that sign of respect shows a lot and helps you turn the page and move forwards."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Toffeecup0, 15/04/2018 18:28

"They have shook hands on the matter so that should be it great sportsmanship"

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2. Posted by f1fan, 13/04/2018 17:03

"Does the media have nothing better to write about than making such a big deal about the Hamilton Verstappen case?
I for one am fed up seeing so many write ups about the two racer's accident. Leave them be!
It is in the past. "

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3. Posted by Barslug, 13/04/2018 0:12

"The media tried and failed to make a story out of nothing. Anyone who pays attention to post race coverage knows that those two respect each other as drivers. Not to say thay can’t get annoyed by each other from time to time. Any time the adrenaline is flowing, words and even sometimes fists can fly. Let’s not try to read too much into it. "

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4. Posted by Trixi, 12/04/2018 21:39

"Hamilton just wants to make a show for the cameras. There’s no change there. Just because he is older? Well, it was a racing incident; and he can move forward because it wasn’t him that didn’t finish the race. Had that been the case, the weeping, wailing, and knashing of teeth would not have led to a handshake by Hamilton. "

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5. Posted by imejl99, 12/04/2018 12:16

"Maybe media would not have had to create something out of nothing if we, as society, could just take it as it is. They are not best friends, they don`t like each other, or any other in fact. We are all jumping from our chairs on any wrong word (wrong by universally accepted correctness). What`s that bull Vettel answering for Louis? We are all hippies now? Hugging in pit lane?

I would love to see BBC`s Grumpy Old Man episode on this sport-correctness-role-model-appearance global madness. (reference for older readers)"

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Lewis and Max shake on it

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