Max Verstappen has retained his fifth place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix after stewards opted to take no further action for the late Lewis Hamilton collision. Already frustrated by Red Bull's strategy calls in the race, Verstappen was trying to mount a challenge for the podium after dropping to fifth after his final pit-stop. He passed Charles Leclerc's Ferrari, but when coming up against the Mercedes of Hamilton, Verstappen initially could not get past. On lap 63 of 70, the world champion attempted to dive up the inside of Turn 1, but misjudged, locked up and collided with the right-front of the W15. Hamilton continued unaffected for a 200th career podium behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as Verstappen fell to fifth behind Leclerc and squabbled with Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari.
Stewards verdict in full
“On the approach to turn 1, both Car 44 [Hamilton] and Car 1 [Versatppen] overtook Car 23 [Alex Albon]. Car 44 returned to the racing line before the braking zone and commenced to turn into turn 1. “Car 1 approached the turn faster than on previous laps (due to DRS) and braked at the same point as previously. “The driver of Car 1 argued that Car 44 was changing direction under braking. The driver of Car 44 stated that he was simply following his normal racing line (which was confirmed by examination of video and telemetry evidence of previous laps). “It was clear that Car 1 locked up both front wheels on the approach to turn 1 prior to any impact occurring but missing the normal cornering line for a typical overtaking manoeuvre. “The driver of Car 44 stated that this was a racing incident, whilst the driver of Car 1 argued that this was a case of changing direction under braking. “The Stewards do not consider this to be a typical case of 'changing direction under braking' although it is our determination that the driver of Car 44 could have done more to avoid the collision. “Accordingly we determine that no driver was predominantly to blame and decide to take no further action.”
Most read
