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Huff: Muller's antics result of losing to Lopez

Honda’s Rob Huff was highly critical of Citroen driver Yvan Muller following an incident between the duo in the main race at the Hungaroring.

José María López, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC

José María López, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC

FIA WTCC

Rob Huff, Honda Racing Team JAS, Honda Civic WTCC
Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
Rob Huff, Honda Racing Team JAS, Honda Civic WTCC
José María López, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC; Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
Start race: José María López, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC leads
Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC with José María López, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
Rob Huff, Honda Racing Team JAS, Honda Civic WTCC
Rob Huff, Honda Racing Team JAS, Honda Civic WTCC
Start of race, Yvan Muller, Citroën World Touring Car Team, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC

The collision saw Huff handed a drive-through penalty by the stewards, scuppering any chance of taking victory from eventual winner Jose Maria Lopez.

The former Chevrolet teammates and title rivals Huff and Muller came together at Turn 3 on lap 10, as the British driver caught the battling Citroens in the wet conditions, chasing his second victory of the season.

Huff made contact with the rear of Muller's Citroen, forcing him wide, with the Frenchman venting his frustration with the manoeuvre on the radio to his team.

Huff was deemed guilty and given the penalty, which saw him finish down in sixth - and the Briton criticised Muller's behaviour heavily after the race.

"It seems to be the way he wants to drive at the moment," Huff said. "He did the same when Tiago went up the inside of him at Turn 8 at Slovakia.

"He must have known he was there and turned in and clobbered him and then shouted that there must be a protest.

"And then he bumped me and pushed me out wide, so I pushed him out wide at the next corner and came out better.

"It's a shame as it's not the normal Yvan I used to race with. I think it's an Yvan who's struggling to hold on to a certain Argentinian."

Not accepting blame

Huff also hinted he did not agree with the penalty, placing the blame on the collision between himself and Muller squarely on the Frenchman's shoulders.

"Once I got past Yvan we dropped him very quickly," said Huff.

"I'm sure he was too busy screaming and shouting on the radio, as it seems quite normal now for Yvan to flap and wave quite a bit.

"It's a shame as I had better traction than him out of Turn 1, I drew alongside, but then as normal the Citroen out-accelerated us a little bit.

"He was defending to the inside then he decided he wanted to turn right and jump on the brakes, we touched, and it's one of those things."

Muller fed up with Honda collisions

Having lost the fight for victory to Lopez, Muller was unappy with Honda's drivers after the race, following a number of incidents over the first three rounds with both Monteiro and Huff.

"I got a good start, I was P3 at the first corner, and quickly I was up to second and could catch Jose, but then when we were fighting Rob," said Muller.

"I've been pushed by a Honda four times in three races which I think is a bit too much," he added.

On whether he felt Huff's penalty was warranted, Muller was sharp in his response.

"I arrived Turn 2, I braked even later than Jose, then suddenly I had a tap on the back and went sideways, and Huff passed me because of that, so yes [he deserved the penalty]."

Neil Hudson/TouringCarTimes

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