The Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton rivalry continues to boil, rooted in their fierce 2021 championship battle. In a recent reveal, Max shared that his vision was blurred during the latter half of that season, particularly after Hamilton nudged him off the track at the high-speed Copse corner, resulting in a 50G impact for the Dutchman. Despite receiving a penalty, Hamilton still claimed victory in that race.
Fast forward to 2024, and the dynamics have barely cooled. Although the frequency of Verstappen-Hamilton on-track incidents has decreased due to Mercedes’ performance struggles under new regulations, things are heating up again as the team’s car performance gets closer to Red Bull’s. In the most recent Hungarian Grand Prix, the two found themselves battling it out on the track once more, and this time, Red Bull’s strategic miscalculation played a part.
During the race, Red Bull’s trackside team misjudged the tire offset effect, running Verstappen long and creating only a 5-lap offset to Hamilton. This error allowed Hamilton to strategically undercut Max, leading to another on-track clash. The stewards reviewed the incident and deemed it a racing incident but suggested Hamilton could have done more to avoid the collision. Hamilton, however, was keen to share his side: “We passed a backmarker and I got into the braking zone, then Max appeared, so I moved over to defend. I left enough room on the inside, but Max locked up and he was going on a different trajectory. It felt like a racing incident and it’s easy to make mistakes like that, so I don’t feel there should be any hostility – but of course, from his side, there always will be.”
Hamilton’s history of intense on-track battles is well-documented. His clashes with Felipe Massa in 2011 were legendary, occurring six times in that year alone. Their collisions damaged cars in Monaco, Singapore, Japan, and India, resembling his latest clash with Max. The stewards in the recent incident echoed their 2011 decision: Hamilton could have done more but wasn’t predominantly at fault.
The rivalry is further exacerbated by the fact that Verstappen won one of the most hard-fought and emotional championships in Hamilton’s career. As Mercedes catches up to Red Bull, expect more heated battles. Hamilton continues to master media interactions. After the Hungarian race, he approached Verstappen, and they exchanged a fist-bump with Max saying, “we’ll speak later.” Hamilton downplayed the moment: “Nothing really [was said]. I just broke the ice, rather than walk past him. I thought it was the respectful thing to do. I have no problems [with him].”
Amid the tension, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko expressed sympathy for Verstappen’s frustration, acknowledging the Dutchman’s emotionally charged radio messages. As Red Bull faces stronger competition from other teams, the stakes are higher than ever. Expect the verbal and on-track clashes to continue as long as these two titans are behind the wheel.
The Hamilton-Verstappen saga shows no sign of slowing, especially with both drivers eager to reclaim dominance. With Mercedes closing the performance gap and Red Bull under pressure, their rivalry will undoubtedly keep fans on the edge of their seats. Buckle up – it’s going to be an exhilarating season.
