Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were involved in a dramatic collision during the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, with unseen footage showing the Brit checking in on his rival after the race
Lewis Hamilton demonstrated his sportsmanship when he approached Max Verstappen in the media pen to check he was okay following their collision at the Hungarian Grand Prix. During the 2024 race at the Hungaroring – which saw Oscar Piastri claim victory – considerable drama unfolded in the closing stages, involving Hamilton and Verstappen.
The Briton, who was still competing in his final campaign with Mercedes, was preparing to turn into the opening corner on lap 63 when the Red Bull star attempted an overtake on the inside.
Nevertheless, the four-time consecutive Formula One world champion couldn’t pull off the manoeuvre as he locked his brakes, resulting in contact between the duo and sending the Dutchman’s car into the air.
Though initially annoyed with Hamilton in what wasn’t their first clash between these racing titans, the 27-year-old’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase informed his driver that they would allow the stewards to examine the incident, reports the Express.
Whilst the competitors have battled numerous times previously, their shared respect was evident to witness.
Following the race, Hamilton chose to approach Verstappen, with the Brit walking over to the media pen to tap his shoulder before they had a quick conversation.
When questioned about his view on their incident, Hamilton told Sky Sports F1: “For me, it was a racing incident. He was much quicker. I turned but left enough space. He locked up and there was contact. If he was under control, he would have been passed.”
The stewards ruled it a racing incident with neither driver at fault. The contact left Verstappen lamenting a lost podium opportunity as he tumbled to fifth following the clash, whilst Hamilton secured third spot to become the first driver to reach 200 career podiums.
Ferrari’s lacklustre campaign this season has attracted significant criticism, with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton languishing fifth and sixth respectively in the Drivers’ Championship standings, heaping pressure on team boss Frederic Vasseur.
Nevertheless, the Frenchman has now been handed a multi-year contract extension ahead of Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. The Italian outfit issued a statement on Thursday declaring: “Ferrari announced today that Ferrari S.p.A. has extended, with a multiple-year contract, its agreement with Fred Vasseur, who will continue as team principal of Scuderia Ferrari HP for the coming Formula 1 seasons.
“Renewing Fred’s contract reflects our determination to build on the foundations laid so far. His ability to lead under pressure, embrace innovation, and pursue performance aligns fully with Ferrari’s values and long-term ambitions.
“Under Fred’s leadership, Scuderia Ferrari HP is united, focused, and committed to continuous improvement. The trust placed in him reflects the team’s confidence in its strategic direction and reinforces a shared determination to deliver the results that Ferrari’s fans, drivers, and team members expect and deserve.”
Vasseur has received public backing from Hamilton and Leclerc recently and Martin Brundle seconded their opinion as last month he said: “It would be nuts to change Fred Vasseur. Is he the problem? I don’t think he’s the problem at the moment. The car’s not fast enough. Now, that’s a collaboration between everybody in the team.
“Who would you replace them with? And then a new crew comes in, and everybody keeps their head down, start working in silos, waiting to see where they stand with the new boss. That’s the last thing Ferrari need to do at the moment.”