Max Verstappen finds it difficult to understand why there was a post-race investigation into an incident with Lewis Hamilton in the Hungarian Grand Prix where there was no contact between the two.
Hamilton ran wide at Turn 4 after Verstappen had attempted a move on the inside of the fast left-hander, with the Red Bull driver’s front right wheel coming close to contact with Hamilton’s rear left. Verstappen gained a position as a result, and the stewards opened an investigation into the incident but opted to speak to the drivers post-race, before opting to take no further action after a representative for Hamilton suggested the Ferrari driver had chosen not to try and stay on track.
“The thing is that nothing happened,” Verstappen said. “We didn’t even touch. That’s the thing. So, for me, it’s a bit difficult to understand why we have the investigation after the race. We explained our side – well, Lewis was not there, but we explained our side of the story.
“I don’t think Lewis actually felt a lot for it, because if he really felt something for it, then of course he’s there in the stewards’ room. I think both of us didn’t have the best of weekends anyway. That’s just that one little thing. The more important thing is that we have to look at our performance, which was not good.
“I went for a move up the inside, because it’s a fast corner, but with downforce, you’re a bit more under control anyway. I think he realized very late that I was up the inside there. So then he turned out of it a little bit and then, of course, went off the track. And that was it. We didn’t touch. Nothing happened.
“I think the problem is that we have so many rules, of course, so it’s always a complicated matter. It’s not always super clear with things. It’s always a bit weird that you have to go to the stewards for something that you didn’t have even a contact or whatever.”
The stewards’ decision referenced the fact that they felt Verstappen had been “ambitious” in his move, but had not forced Hamilton off the circuit.
“The driver of Car 1 stated during the hearing that he had gained some momentum on Car 44 out of Turn 3 with fresher tires and used this momentum to make a move on the inside into Turn 4,” the decision read. “He further elaborated that he was in full control of his car and could have stayed further to the inside to leave space for Car 44 on the exit. However he said, as Car 44 had gone off track, he elected to use all of the track on the exit.
“The team representative of Car 44 confirmed that there was no contact between both cars and further stated that the driver of Car 44 chose not to attempt to remain on track.
“Taking all this into account, the Stewards determine that there was no contact and that the incident does not qualify as forcing another car off track despite the ambitious nature of the overtaking attempt and take no further action.”
Hamilton failed to score in 12th, while Verstappen was limited to ninth place overall and the defending champion there was little opportunity to secure a better result despite complaining about the Red Bull strategy over team radio.
“I think [the strategy] is not our biggest problem. The whole weekend we were just really slow. We just struggled a lot for grip in low speed, and medium speed. That was also the problem in the race. Whatever we would have done – staying out long, doing what we did – I think we would have been struggling anyway.”
