Lewis Hamilton was surprised by stewards explanation in F1 Hungarian GP clash with Max Verstappen, as he adds further on talks and Lando Norris’ antics.
While the FIA stewards deemed the clash between Mercedes’ Hamilton and Red Bull’s Verstappen as racing incident – despite the Dutchman’s plea regarding movement under braking – the Brit was surprised by the explanation of the same.
Hamilton stressed on it being a racing incident as well, but he was surprised by the stewards noting that the Brit could have done more to avoid the incident. The Mercedes feels he was well in control of his car as opposed to Verstappen.
“Yes, very much so,” said Hamilton to media. “I was really, really surprised by it. I think already I was very relaxed about the situation. I just said, it’s just a racing incident, let’s just move on. But considering one car was in control, one car was not in control at the time. And if you look at the replay, I’m very, very far from, at the end of the whole move.
“I’m very, very far from the apex. So, I’ve left, there’s a lot of room on the right-hand side. So, I was very, very surprised. “That will be a question when I speak to [the stewards] at some stage,” summed up Hamilton, who noted that he and Verstappen did not have separate conversation about it, as it is not required as such.
But he is fine if the Dutchman wishes to speak this weekend. “We didn’t talk afterwards,” said Hamilton. “I mean, we went to the stewards. That’s it. Yeah, we’ve not had a talk. I don’t know if we will. Maybe we’ll talk in the parade this weekend. I’ve not felt that there’s necessarily a need to.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, concurred about no talks but didn’t wished to go in-depth on the incident per se on who was right or wrong. “We explained our vision and after that we went home,” said the Dutchman to media. “That’s it, I mean they have decided, there’s nothing you can do about it – the decision as well.
“Even if you think it was right or wrong, we move on. I mean we just move on with it, there is new race and new opportunities.” Hamilton was not done with Verstappen, though, as when he was asked about how the Dutchman should cope with lack of results, the Brit indirectly suggested that he isn’t acting like a world champion.
It was regarding to the radio calls made by Verstappen in Hungary, where he mostly went against Red Bull and his longtime race engineer. “You have to be a team leader, a team member,” noted Hamilton. “Maybe not so much a team leader but more so just always remember you are a teammate with lots of people.
“And you have to act like a world champion.” And when pressed upon to spill out who it was directed towards, Hamilton simply laughed when stating: “That’s a good question. Not like it was last weekend [in Hungary]!”
In a further exchange, Hamilton was also asked about the antics of McLaren’s Lando Norris towards the Brit in the cool down room post the grand prix in Hungary. The former exclaimed about the latter being too fast, to which he responded coldly about the past.
Norris highlighted how fast and dominant Mercedes were too. That exchange blew on the internet, with many not liking the McLaren driver’s attitude. But the seven-time F1 champion didn’t take it to his heart and played down the matter.
“It didn’t bother me, no,” said Hamilton. I’ think, look, I’m nearly 40 years old, so I remember being in my mid-twenties. And I remember, when I go back and look at things that I said that I would have said differently or I would have reacted differently, and I noticed, like, when you come out of the race, when you feel like you should have won, your emotions are firing.
“So I see that and I’m like, it’s an age thing and, you know, I don’t take it personally. I think ultimately, all us drivers, all us competitors, we do put a lot of pressure on ourselves. That’s how we do what we do. So I don’t think you can be particularly great without putting pressure on yourself.
“You’ve got to aim high and, you know, if you fail and you’re like, that’s the greatest thing ever and you’re really relaxed about it. I don’t think you’re ever going to naturally achieve what you intend to achieve. Can you be too hard on yourself? For sure. There was a time, I think, when I didn’t leave my room for three days when I was his age, so I know what it’s like.
“And that wasn’t healthy for me, but I don’t think I’ve ever looked at myself in the mirror for three days at the moment. I hope he doesn’t. I think what’s important is that we continue to do what we’re doing. The drivers are great. They’ve got a great car,” summed up Hamilton.
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