The FIA concluded its investigation on Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clash at Hungarian Grand Prix with no penalty for either driver.
Both drivers remained safe during the collision and FIA clear them of any blame or penalty. However, the stewards suggested that Hamilton could have “done more” to avoid the incident.
The Red Bull and Mercedes’ Formula 1 world champions were battling for 3rd place during lap 63 when the former drove inside to take position. He passed the British driver on Turn 1 under braking, but Hamilton moved across to turn into the corner. Verstappen locked up and his rear tyres went up into air.
Verstappen lost his position to Hamitlon agains and bounced into run off area, where he recovered back to the track. The British driver kept his position while the dutch lost his position and finished fifth on grid.
Hamilton believed the matter as a racing incident while the Dutch blamed the former for illegally moving under braking.
“I got a lot of shit thrown at me in Austria with people saying moving under braking, blah blah blah,” said Verstappen.
“I am positioning my car on the initial movement and then I keep it straight. Today, under braking, he just kept turning to the right and that is why I also locked up, because I was going for the move.
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“But I saw the car on the outside kept coming at me. Otherwise, we would’ve already crashed before. I had to stop the car so that is why I locked up.”
The stewards disagreed with Verstappen’s opinion about seven times world champion. The authorities investigated videos, timing and telemetry data and absolved Hamilton of any wrong doings.
However, they added that the incident could have been avoided. The FIA issued a statement: “On the approach to turn 1, both Car 44 [Hamilton] and Car 1 [Verstappen] 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.
“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.
“Accordingly, we determine that no driver was predominantly to blame and decide to take no further action.”
