Lewis Hamilton secured third place in the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his 200th podium in his Formula 1 career. However, it was a close call as he nearly lost his podium spot to Max Verstappen. The two drivers encountered each other in the final laps of the race, resulting in Verstappen veering off the track. According to Hamilton, the collision was nothing more than a racing incident.
Hamilton started the race in fourth place but quickly executed an undercut on Verstappen. This move put Hamilton in third place, but he soon saw his Dutch competitor in his rear-view mirror. Verstappen briefly overtook Hamilton, but a braking error by the Red Bull driver allowed Hamilton to reclaim his position. In lap 64, Hamilton and Verstappen encountered each other again on the track, with the British driver’s front wheel colliding with the Dutchman’s rear wheel. This caused Verstappen to veer off the track, allowing Hamilton to continue in third place.
Hamilton ultimately finished on the podium, behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren. The British driver immediately congratulated his former team after the race. “I heartily congratulate McLaren on the 1-2,” said Hamilton, who began his career with the British team. “That’s my old family.” The seven-time world champion is particularly pleased for the new winner, Piastri. “Fantastic. He’s done brilliantly since he’s been in Formula 1, and it was only a matter of time before he would win.”
Collision with Verstappen a Racing Incident
Hamilton did not expect to celebrate his special milestone before the race. “We didn’t have the pace of the McLarens or the Red Bulls. We barely managed to keep up at the start. The fight at the end was razor-thin, but that’s racing.” In the final section, Verstappen tried to overtake the Mercedes driver, and the two collided. For Verstappen, his chance at a podium spot was then lost. “Verstappen steered it on the inside, I stood still. I think it’s a racing incident,” is Hamilton’s conclusion.
