Max Verstappen’s clash with Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian Grand Prix sparked controversy yet again, with no penalty issued for the Dutch driver. The incident at Turn 1 saw Verstappen’s aggressive move lead to contact, propelling his car skyward. Despite the dramatic nature of the moment, the race continued with minimal impact on both drivers’ standings. But why did the stewards decide to let it slide?
The race at the Hungaroring was anything but uneventful when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clashed late in the stages. Verstappen’s bold attempt to overtake Hamilton at Turn 1 led to an unwanted collision, with his Red Bull briefly airborne. Astonishingly, both drivers managed to keep racing, with Hamilton maintaining his third-place finish while Verstappen slipped just one position, allowing Charles Leclerc to slip ahead.
The stewards were quick to investigate, marking the second time in three races that Verstappen found himself under scrutiny for a collision. Previously, he had been handed a 10-second penalty for a less serious incident with Lando Norris in Austria. This time, however, the outcome was different. Following a thorough examination of telemetry and video evidence, the stewards deemed neither driver predominantly at fault. Interestingly, they suggested that Hamilton might have done more to prevent the incident.
The investigation offered insights from multiple angles, reviewing data, video footage, and testimony from both drivers and their teams. The analysis revealed that both drivers overtook Alex Albon before the incident. Hamilton returned to the racing line as he approached the turn, while Verstappen reached the corner at a higher speed due to utilizing the DRS (Drag Reduction System), braking later than usual. Verstappen argued that Hamilton was moving during braking, but evidence showed Hamilton was on his regular racing line. Despite locking up both front wheels, Verstappen’s trajectory did not follow a standard overtaking path.
In his media remarks following the race, Verstappen defended his actions, expressing frustration over repeated accusations of moving under braking. He explained that Hamilton’s trajectory forced him to lock up as he attempted to avoid an early collision. Meanwhile, Hamilton began his comments with a calmer stance, describing the moment as a racing incident. He acknowledged the difficulty and potential for error in such high-speed maneuvers, suggesting there was no need for ongoing conflict despite Verstappen’s agitation.
The stewards’ decision not to penalize reflected their view that neither driver had sole responsibility for the mishap. They interpreted the occurrence as a typical racing scenario where both could maneuver differently to avoid contact. As such, they chose not to escalate the incident further by issuing a penalty.
In the end, the stewards opted to take no action against Max Verstappen, viewing the incident with Lewis Hamilton as a shared misjudgment rather than one deserving penalty. Both drivers continue their intense rivalry on the track, each holding firm in their perspectives, a testament to the high stakes and tensions that define the racing world.
