Hungarian Grand Prix Incident: Verstappen and Hamilton Cleared
In the aftermath of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen expressed confusion over the post-race investigation concerning a non-contact incident with Lewis Hamilton. The inquiry focused on a maneuver at Turn 4, where Hamilton ran wide after Verstappen attempted an inside pass. Although Verstappen’s front right wheel narrowly missed Hamilton’s rear left, the stewards ultimately concluded there was no breach of conduct.
Verstappen commented, "The thing is that nothing happened. We didn’t even touch. For me, it’s difficult to understand why we have the investigation after the race." He noted that Hamilton did not appear concerned, highlighting his absence during the stewards’ session.
The stewards acknowledged Verstappen’s "ambitious" overtaking attempt but determined it did not constitute forcing another driver off-track. Their report stated, "There was no contact between both cars, and the driver of Car 44 chose not to attempt to remain on track." As a result, they decided against any penalties.
Both drivers’ performances were underwhelming, with Hamilton finishing 12th and Verstappen in ninth. Verstappen criticized the Red Bull strategy, stating, “Whatever we would have done… we would have been struggling anyway.” He emphasized that the team’s overall pace was a more pressing concern than strategy decisions.
This incident underscores the complexities of overtaking rules and the scrutiny surrounding driver conduct in Formula 1.
