Max Verstappen has avoided any disciplinary action following a daring overtaking maneuver on Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix. The stewards ruled that Verstappen did not force Hamilton off track at Turn 4, a high-speed section of the Hungaroring circuit. The incident took place after Verstappen’s switch to hard tyres, as he worked his way back through the field. While chasing Hamilton—who was trailing a group of slower cars—Verstappen eventually seized the opportunity to pass at Turn 4, which prompted Hamilton to veer off track through the run-off area. The stewards reviewed the move post-race but found no grounds for a penalty.
Verstappen had spent several laps behind Hamilton before launching his overtake. As he approached with fresher tyres, Verstappen made a decisive move on the inside at Turn 4. Hamilton reacted by running wide onto the escape route, avoiding direct contact. Despite this, the incident was flagged for investigation. However, Hamilton chose not to appear at the stewards’ hearing, and his Ferrari team stated that the driver had deliberately taken evasive action to avoid contact, confirming that no collision had occurred.
During the hearing, Verstappen explained that he had full control of his car during the maneuver. He stated that he had gained significant traction out of Turn 3 and used it to dive inside at Turn 4. Verstappen also claimed that he could have left more space had Hamilton stayed on track, but seeing him go wide, he opted to use the full width of the circuit. Ferrari’s team rep supported this, clarifying that Hamilton voluntarily left the racing surface and that no physical contact took place during the move.
Ultimately, the stewards concluded that Verstappen’s move did not breach the rules. Although aggressive, the overtake did not constitute forcing another driver off the road, especially since Hamilton had voluntarily chosen the safer option of avoiding a potential clash. As there was no impact and both parties acknowledged the lack of contact, the stewards declared the incident clean and took no further action against Verstappen.
Speaking after the race, Verstappen appeared unfazed by the investigation and downplayed the entire episode. He pointed out that the lack of any actual contact made the situation seem overblown and suggested that Hamilton’s absence from the hearing indicated that he didn’t consider it a serious matter. Verstappen remarked that both he and Hamilton had underwhelming weekends overall, and that more attention should be paid to improving performance than dwelling on a brief, uneventful moment on track.
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