Max Verstappen has took a dig at Lewis Hamilton after the pair were summoned to the stewards after an incident during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
It was a grand prix to forget for both drivers after a miserable performance in qualifying yesterday with Verstappen starting in eighth and Hamilton unable to get into Q3 meaning he started 12th on the grid.
Hamilton was unable to better that finish during the race as he was lapped by the race leaders while Verstappen suffered the ignominy of finishing behind his former teammate Liam Lawson in the Racing Bull ending the race one place back from his starting position.
The race didn’t finish without incident though as the former title rivals were noted for a potential infringement heading into turn four on lap 30.
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Hamilton was being held up in a car train being led by Ollie Bearman in the Haas and Verstappen attempted a move on the inside, narrowly avoiding contact with the Ferrari driver.
Hamilton took to the run-off and conceded the place to the Red Bull star with the incident being noted by the stewards. Stewards would investigate after the race with Verstappen noted for ‘allegedly forcing Hamilton off track.”
It wasn’t the first time the pair clashed at Hungary with Hamilton colliding with Verstappen last year into turn one which briefly sent the Dutchman airbourne.
When asked about the incident post-race, Verstappen couldn’t resist a dig at his former foe, claiming he ‘got scared’ heading into the corner.
"I'm actually pretty disappointed I have to go to the stewards after the race. Just analyse it in the race,” he told Viaplay.
"I just set my nose next to him, he gets scared and goes off track.”
Asked about a potential penalty, Verstappen added: “It doesn’t matter. If you get P9 or no points, it doesn’t matter at all.”
Verstappen also confirmed Hamilton did not attend the stewards enquiry which further emphasised his point as to whether an investigation was needed in the first place.
When asked about his part in the incident, the Ferrari driver said he had no recollection of the events.
Hamilton said: “I don’t really remember to be honest.
“I saw last minute he was quite close to my right wheel, so I tried to avoid a collision.”
The stewards concluded that no further action would be necessary.
Victory for Lando Norris and a second-place finish for Oscar Piastri seems to have put an end to any feint hopes Verstappen had of re-entering contention to retain the World Drivers Championship heading into the summer break.
Piastri leads Norris by nine points ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August with Verstappen back in third, 81 points off the pace.
Topics: Formula 1, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Hungarian Grand Prix, Motorsport
Marcus Banks