Stewards take no further action over Hamilton/Verstappen clash

Race stewards have opted to take no further action after the collision between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was attempting to overtake Hamilton down the inside into Turn 1, but locked up as the pair approached the corner and his left rear hit Hamilton’s front right. The Red Bull was launched into the air by the contact and Verstappen felt Hamilton had moved under braking, but the stewards disagreed, despite making a note of the Mercedes driver’s involvement.

“Car 1 approached the turn faster than on previous laps (due to DRS) and braked at the same point as previously,” the stewards’ decision read. “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 maneuver.

“The driver of Car 44 stated that this was a racing incident, while 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.”

Prior to the decision, Hamilton had already clarified his belief that it wasn’t a serious incident, but was unhappy with Verstappen’s claim of moving under braking.

“From what I can remember, obviously we passed a backmarker,” Hamilton said. “I got to the braking zone, and then Max appeared to overtake the car behind me, so I moved over to defend. I left enough room in the inside, but Max locked up, and he was going a different trajectory to me. I was going towards, around the corner, and he came shooting across.

“It felt like a racing incident. It’s easy to make mistakes like that, and so I don’t feel there should be any hostility. But of course, from his side, there always will be.”

Story originally appeared on Racer