Max Verstappen didn’t have much to smile about at the Hungarian Grand Prix, and a tense moment with Lewis Hamilton only added to the frustration.
Starting from P8, Verstappen dropped a spot to P9 by the checkered flag. But it was a late-race near-miss with Hamilton that had everyone talking, and the FIA stewards watching closely.
In the closing laps, Verstappen dived in close on Hamilton’s right, nearly sparking a collision. Hamilton reacted quickly, going off track to avoid contact. While both cars escaped unscathed, the incident triggered a post-race investigation by race officials.
Verstappen was visibly annoyed at having to appear before the stewards, believing the situation didn’t warrant such scrutiny.
“I’m actually pretty disappointed I have to go to the stewards after the race. Just analyze it in the race,” Verstappen said after the event.
The Dutch driver insisted that he simply placed his car beside Hamilton’s to create a possible overtaking opportunity. In his view, Hamilton “got scared” and overreacted.
“I just set my nose next to him, he gets scared and goes off track,” Verstappen added.
The FIA will now review the incident further, though Verstappen hopes to avoid any penalties that might drop him further in the standings.
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Lewis Hamilton Shrugs Off the Drama
Hamilton, meanwhile, seemed entirely unbothered by the incident. The Ferrari driver had a tough race, struggling with pace throughout and falling short of expectations. When asked about the brush with Verstappen, Hamilton said he barely remembered it.
“I don’t really remember to be honest. I saw last minute he was quite close to my right wheel, so I tried to avoid a collision,” Hamilton said in a post-race interview.
As the F1 summer break kicks in, Verstappen and Red Bull will be eager to regroup after a disappointing stretch of races. For now, the tension between two of the sport’s biggest stars simmers once again.
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