Since the start of Formula One races in Azerbaijan last year, the venue has never been short of providing drama and thrills as drivers battle it out on the track for supremacy.

From tactical masterstrokes to altercations for driving manoeuvres, the Baku City Circuit has always witnessed engaging and enticing races over the course of two years.

Lewis Hamilton, on Sunday, registered his first victory in Baku, much to the misfortune of teammate Valtteri Bottas, who sustained a right rear tyre puncture during the penultimate stages, thereby handing the top spot to the Brit.

This was Hamilton’s first win of the season, which has somewhat been an underwhelming campaign by his standards, having not been able to secure podium places in the previous three rounds.

However, the reigning world champion has raised an issue which involves none other than his arch-rival Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton has demanded a distinct response from FIA regarding the Ferrari star’s restart tactics of deliberately slowing and accelerating prior to the first Safety Car restart.

He further questioned why they were allowed. According to him, it sets a dangerous precedent to the world of racing.

The 33-year-old said: “The rules are when the Safety Car goes you’re not allowed to start, stop, start, stop.

“You’re not allowed to gas and then brake, you’re not allowed to fake the car behind. Because naturally if there was not that rule, that’s what you would do, and eventually you catch them sleeping. You’re not allowed to do that. You’re allowed to weave.

“You’re not allowed to start-stop. That’s against the rules.

“And if you look at all the times, every restart I’ve done, particularly the four I did last year, I didn’t do that and I’ve abided by that. In Australia, Sebastian accelerated then brakes and I nearly went up the back end of him. Today he did it maybe four times.”

The stewards, however, were satisfied with the strategy adopted by the former German champion.

Race director Charlie Whiting, speaking on the issue, said: “There was a little bit of a complaint from Lewis that [Vettel] was not going at a constant rate. But then when you look down through the field quite a few places where that happens so I think to expect them to all go at one speed doesn’t seem to happen.

“As long as no one does anything that’s obviously dangerous then I think we’re happy with what happened and I think he did control it rather well.”

Hamilton was quick to respond and stated: “The stewards supposedly said that all the other cars are doing it. But we’re the leaders, so cascades down, it’s a domino effect. What the first car does, everyone does the same thing.

“What that does is that now sets a precedent so that means that everyone that’s leading a grand prix under a Safety Car can start-stop. That goes down to Formula Two, Formula Three, Formula Four. Because they’re not going to get penalised."

He asserted that he expects Vettel to do the same over the course of the calendar year and also gave his insight into how he tackled the matter while racing him this weekend.

“So I need to get that rectified when I have the briefing next because clearly they don’t care about it and if that’s the case then we will see more of that,” added the Mercedes ace.

“And I would expect that from [Vettel] next time I’m racing him. If you noticed I already put my car to the right to avoid a collision because he was starting and stopping. Otherwise I would tuck in behind.”

Hamilton now leads Vettel by four with 70 points and the rivalry resumes at the Spanish Grand Prix in a fortnight.