Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have had a fierce rivalry since the 2021 season, during which the pair clashed numerous times while competing for the championship. While Verstappen and Hamilton aren’t currently battling for championships, there is still some needle between the two world champions.
Both drivers were coming into the Hungarian GP following a disappointing weekend in Belgium the week before. They were looking to get a good result before the summer break. However, both qualified down the pecking order.
Trying to save their races, Verstappen and Hamilton were fighting over P11 mid-way through the race. Max tried a move up the inside of turn 4, and Hamilton looked to run wide like he was hit. After an investigation, no penalty was awarded to either driver, but why?
The reason Max Verstappen wasn’t penalised for the Lewis Hamilton clash
On lap 30, Max Verstappen attempted a move on Lewis Hamilton at turn 4. Hamilton ran wide and ran off the track into the runoff area. Hamilton lost the place to the Dutchman while being forced off the track and lost momentum.
The incident was referred to the stewards, who would investigate after the race, as they wanted to hear from both drivers. However, according to F1 journalist Thomas Maher, Lewis “waived his rights” to a hearing regarding the clash. Due to this, no further action was taken for the incident. A Ferrari representative also confirmed that Hamilton had “chose not to attempt to remain on track.”
LAP 30/70
Hamilton has to run wide as Verstappen goes on the charge at Turn 4 – that was close! 😰
Verstappen up to P11 ⬆️#F1 #HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/sz0q57Nrpu
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2025
Max Verstappen himself was “bemused” why the incident was under investigation. Speaking to Sky Sports, the four-time world champion said: “Well, the thing is that nothing happens. 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.”
The two world champions had an underwhelming weekend in Hungary, and a penalty for this incident wouldn’t have affected the race result. Verstappen was a long way ahead of tenth-placed Kimi Antonelli, while Lewis Hamilton finished outside the points.
Both Verstappen and Hamilton had poor weekends in Hungary
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton looked to have put their intense rivalry to one side in Hungary. Hamilton didn’t go to the stewards’ room to fight the case against Verstappen. Instead, the seven-time world champion sent a representative.
Hamilton started the race in P12, and on an alternative strategy, was unable to make any ground, finishing in the same position. The 40-year-old had pace in clean air, but was stuck behind traffic during most of the race. He was unable to overtake Isack Hadjar and Kimi Antonelli late on, despite being on better tyres. The incident with Verstappen wouldn’t have changed his race result.
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Verstappen also had a difficult weekend. The Dutchman started from P8 on the grid, but the team put him on the sub-optimal two-stop strategy, while many around him stopped only once. This put him in traffic, meaning his progress was stalled. After his second stop, he rejoined the race in P9 and couldn’t find a way past Liam Lawson.
After the race, Verstappen summarised: “I think both of us didn’t have the best of weekends anyway, so that’s just one little thing. The more important thing is that we have to look at our performance, which was not good.”
Verstappen and Hamilton had disappointing weekends and lacked pace throughout the whole weekend. Hamilton was far off his teammate’s pace, while Red Bull lacked grip. The drivers and teams need to reset through the summer break, or there could be more weekends like Hungary this season.
