Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen had a fiery battle in Hungary (Images via Getty, JohnKuriyakose on X)
Formula 1 fans were split on who to blame for the on-track skirmishes between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the recently concluded Hungarian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver was involved in a series of tussles with the Red Bull star at Hungaroring.
Hamilton and Verstappen’s on-track battles reminded fans of the 2021 F1 season, when the duo acted as the Championship protagonists. However, in Budapest, they were fighting for the last podium place, not race wins.
Verstappen and Hamilton got close to each other on Lap 36 when the Dutchman trimmed his gap after the Mercedes undercut him. As the Red Bull driver was trying to use the DRS and slipstream to power past the Mercedes, Hamilton closed the door on him.
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The reigning champion kept the charge on, and after a few turns, he once again moved on the inside, and ran wide after locking up his tires. Through this, Verstappen lost the overtaking chance and Hamilton kept his place. A few laps later, the three-time world champion tried his luck again.
He dived in on the inside to overtake, but Hamilton left him no space. As a result, Verstappen’s left rear tyre made contact with Hamilton’s right front, sending the former airborne. This resulted in Verstappen losing a couple of places to Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
While the debate is on to find out who was at fault for the collision, fans have divided opinions on this.
A fan said, “Lewis has learnt the art of knocking people with no damage to the nth degree. Racing incident for me, but if anyone at fault it’s Lewis for sure.”
“My thought too when I saw it again, he knows Max is there but still steers in,” wrote another fan blaming Hamilton.
Another fan suggested that Lewis Hamilton should have moved, “He makes no attempt to avoid a car that locks up.”
However, fans also blamed Verstappen for the collision.
A fan wrote, “He [Verstappen] literally bombed the corner on purpose [and] locked up, while Hamilton was ready to turn, its on Verstappen.”
“Even as a Max fan I’m saying that Max came in way too fast to ever be able to make that corner, this was on Max not Lewis,” wrote another fan putting the blame on Verstappen.
“I noticed this as well, Lewis should of moved but Max still to blame,” another fan wrote blaming the Dutchman.
Stewards summoned Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for causing a collision
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (Image via Getty)
Following the completion of the Hungarian GP, the stewards called Max Verstappen in for causing a collision. The stewards noted the Dutchman’s action against Lewis Hamilton in Lap 36, and then in Lap 63.
However, the stewards deemed it fair to call Verstappen on ‘Alleged breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2d) of the FIA International Sporting Code.’
After a thorough look and understanding of the situation from Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, their respective teams, video, timing, and telemetry, the stewards decided that no further action was necessary.
