Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen involved in crash at Hungarian Grand Prix. What happened?

Speed, spills, and thrills would be the best way to describe what Formula 1 fans witnessed on Sunday at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród. Truthfully, it was a Hungarian Grand Prix to remember and for two of the sport’s biggest names, not fondly.

Lewis Hamilton & Max Verstappen collide

While there was a multitude of talking points during Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix that moment that caught everyone’s attention was without doubt when Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton were involved in a collision during an intense battle for third place. Regarding specifics, the incident occurred when Verstappen attempted to pass Hamilton, however, Hamilton’s front right tire hit Verstappen’s back left tire, resulting in the Red Bull driver’s rear catapulting into the air. It was a dramatic scene for sure but surprisingly did not lead to Verstappen’s elimination from the race.

In the end, Hamilton took third place, marking the 200th time that he’s been on the podium in his career, while Verstappen had to settle for a fifth-placed finish. According to reports, the crash is now being investigated by the FIA. Yet, it would be remiss not to mention the irony of the situation. At the start of Sunday’s race, Verstappen was caught ranting to his team on the radio about the near collision between McLaren’s drivers Oscar Piastri - the eventual winner on Sunday - and Lando Norris.

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“OK, so you can just drive people off the track then?” Verstappen shouted. “You can tell the FIA that’s how we’re going to race from now onwards! Just driving people off the road!” What adds even more fuel to the fire is the fact that this is not the first time the Dutchman and the Brit have had problems. Indeed, there have been several instances, but who could forget the most infamous of them at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021?

On that occasion, the FIA incorrectly allowed a restart of the final lap, which led to Verstappen passing Hamilton, resulting in his first championship. An enraged Hamilton would later claim that he was “robbed” of the championship. With that as context, one could be forgiven for wondering if he kept it in mind when he saw Verstappen attempting to pass him.