Rosberg: Verstappen Deserved Penalty for Collision with Hamilton in Hungary
The Hungarian Grand Prix was not only marked by McLaren’s impressive victory but also by a dramatic collision between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The incident occurred at turn 1, eight laps from the end of the race, when Verstappen tried to overtake Hamilton to claim the last podium spot. However, the attempt resulted in a touch that sent Hamilton airborne and led to a heated discussion about blame and penalties.
The Incident
As Verstappen approached Hamilton on the main straight, he attempted an aggressive maneuver to overtake the Mercedes driver. However, when braking, Verstappen locked up the tires and ended up colliding with Hamilton’s car. Verstappen’s left rear wheel hit Hamilton’s front right, resulting in a collision that left both cars damaged. Verstappen dropped to fifth position, while Hamilton managed to continue but with difficulties.
Rosberg’s Opinion
Nico Rosberg, former F1 world champion and Hamilton’s old teammate, was quick to share his opinion on the incident. In a comment during the Sky Sports broadcast, Rosberg was blunt: “I’m assuming Max hasn’t seen this on TV yet. Otherwise, someone needs to tell him there is a corner there, which is why Lewis was turning! Lewis was making the corner. I’m sure he’ll [Verstappen] get a 5 or 10-second penalty and drop behind Sainz.”
Accident Analysis
Anthony Davidson, former F1 driver and analyst, also offered his perspective. “Two things – why did the lock-up happen and who was at fault for the collision? As they headed down the straight, Verstappen was behind Lewis as they both overtook the Williams. Lewis returned to the racing line, as expected. But Lewis took a slightly shallow approach to the corner, which caught Max by surprise.”
Davidson continued, highlighting that as Verstappen entered the corner, he was going for a space he thought was free. “There is plenty of room, more than a car’s width on the right side. But you’re carrying so much speed that you’ll probably lock up. And that’s what happened. When you have a double front lock-up, you have no steering. That’s what caught Lewis by surprise.”
Stewards’ Decision
Despite the analyses and Rosberg’s expectations, the stewards decided not to penalize any of the drivers after the investigation. The decision sparked debate among fans and experts but underscored the complexity of high-speed racing situations.
Conclusion
The incident between Verstappen and Hamilton in Hungary is another chapter in the intense rivalry between the two drivers. With divided opinions and no penalty applied, it remains to be seen how this episode will influence future races and the interactions between the drivers on the F1 tracks.
