The Formula One season is now started, and with 11 races remaining, it’s no surprise that Red Bull leads the Constructors’ Championship – if not as easily as many would have thought.
The Hungarian Grand Prix, the 13th event on the calendar, was certainly not unfortunate for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who won his maiden race in F1, but reigning champion Max Verstappen would rather forget it.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided in Hungary.
On lap 63 of Sunday’s race, the Dutchman clashed with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton as he sought to take the inside line on turn one, locking up his front tyres in the process. This resulted in collision between the two cars, briefly lifting the Red Bull into the air and off the track.
Verstappen reacted angrily over the team radio, accusing his long-term rival, while Hamilton’s old colleague Nico Rosberg says it was entirely the Red Bull driver’ responsibility.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Rosberg said: “Frustrations are starting to boil over, which we as viewers actually like seeing. Isn’t it a shift from Red Bull’s dominance?
“But I’m presuming Max hasn’t seen it yet on TV; otherwise, someone should inform him that it was truly a corner, which is why Lewis was turning in. I mean, Lewis was turning the corner!”
Despite Rosberg’s caustic remarks and thought that the Dutch driver deserved a penalty, neither Verstappen nor Hamilton received one from the stewards, and they finished fifth and third, respectively.
What the Drivers Said Following the Race About the Crash Verstappen refused to accept the responsibility, despite the bold move.
When asked if his frustrations had bubbled over in a post-race interview, Verstappen answered, “I don’t think so. I mean, I went for a move that was completely on. But then, in the middle of the braking zone, after I’d already committed to the move, he simply continued warping right, and if I hadn’t turned while braking, I would have collided with him.
As for the Ferrari-bound Hamilton, he looked amused by Verstappen throwing the finger at him, responding: “For me, I think it was a racing incident. I believe he was lot quicker, and he mailed it. I moved somewhat to defend, but I left enough room on the inside, and he locked up, so I couldn’t turn.
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