'They put people at risk' - Lewis Hamilton critical of Tuscan Grand Prix decisions

World champion claimed another win in eventful race to edge closer to Schumacher record

Haas' Romain Grosjean and Red Bull's Max Verstappen after crashing at the start of the Tuscan Grand Prix. Reuters

Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Tuscan Grand Prix at Mugello on Sunday, September 13. Reuters

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas. Reuters

Lewis Hamilton takes the lead at the race restart in front of Renault's Daniel Ricciardo. AFP

AlphaTauri's French driver Pierre Gasly after his crash. AFP

Red Bull's Max Verstappen after crashing. AP

Rud Bull's Alexander Albon passes celebrating team members after securing third place and his first podium finish. Getty

Valtteri Bottas leads Mercedes' teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the race. Reuters

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas behind the safety car during the race. Reuters

Valtteri Bottas leads his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton at the start of the race. Reuters

Cars line-up before the race, Getty

Lewis Hamilton takes a knee before the race in support of anti-racism movements. Getty

Lewis Hamilton accused Formula One of putting drivers' lives at risk in Sunday's crash-hit Tuscan Grand Prix.

The world champion overcame two red flags to win for a 90th time and move to within one of Michael Schumacher's victory record.

But tempers flared during the chaotic race in Mugello, Italy, with Romain Grosjean accusing Valtteri Bottas of "wanting to kill" him.

Bottas was leading when he backed the field up until the start-finish line following the conclusion of a safety car period. Moments later a dramatic four-way crash ensued.

But Hamilton said Bottas was not to blame – instead believing that his teammate was left with no option after the safety car lights were turned off too late in the lap. The lights switching off indicate when the race is about to resume.

"It was not Valtteri's fault at all but the decision-makers," said the world champion.

"They are trying to make it more exciting but today they put people at risk. It was over the limit so there needs to be a rethink.

"These races can get boring when the field stretches out and the safety car brings it back closer together. They do it in Nascar all the time to keep the racing exciting.

"But they have to take into account the safety aspect. Today wasn't safe and you could see it coming."

A number of drivers were too eager to get on the accelerator pedal ahead of the restart on Lap 7. In the middle of the pack, rookie Nicholas Latifi jumped on the gas but had to brake dramatically.

A concertina effect followed, with Antonio Giovinazzi slamming into the back of the Williams driver. McLaren's Carlos Sainz then hit Giovinazzi, with the Italian driver sent airborne. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was blasted from behind by the out-of-control Giovinazzi, with all four cars ending up in the barriers along the main straight.

Latifi, Giovinazzi and Magnussen walked away from the accident, but Sainz sustained bruising to both hands in the high-speed shunt. The crash led to the race being red-flagged for the second time in as many weekends.

A furious Grosjean yelled over the radio: "That was stupid from whoever was at the front. They want to kill us or what? This is the worst thing I have ever seen."

Bottas was cleared by the stewards of any wrongdoing. Twelve of the 18 drivers still left in the race – Bottas not among them – were later warned following an investigation but not one was found "wholly or predominantly to blame".

Hamilton's sixth win from nine rounds moved him 55 points clear of Bottas in the standings. He will get his first shot at matching Schumacher's win record in Russia a week on Sunday.