Verstappen-Hamilton clash sparks debate, Rosberg weighs in

The Hungarian Grand Prix witnessed yet another chapter in the storied rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, as their on-track battle ended in controversy.

The incident, which occurred during the closing stages of the race, has ignited a heated debate within the Formula 1 community, with former world champion Nico Rosberg offering a pointed critique of Verstappen's post-race comments.

The controversial clash

As the race entered its final laps, Verstappen and Hamilton found themselves locked in an intense battle for the final podium position.

The Red Bull driver, attempting an overtake at Turn 1, locked both front wheels and made contact with Hamilton's Mercedes, briefly becoming airborne as he clipped the front-right wheel of his rival's car.

Verstappen's perspective

In the aftermath of the race, Verstappen was quick to defend his actions and place the blame squarely on Hamilton's shoulders.

Speaking to Sky F1, the Dutch driver stated,

"I went for a move that was fully on. But then in the middle of the braking zone, when I'm already committed of course to the move, he suddenly just keeps warping right."

Verstappen further elaborated on his view of the incident, saying,

"If I wouldn't have turned while braking straight, I would have made contact with him. So at one point yeah naturally I lock up, because he just keeps on turning to the right."

The reigning world champion also drew comparisons to recent scrutiny of his driving style, particularly referencing events in Austria.

"People obviously made a lot about what happened in Austria, which is not correct, blah, blah, blah, but that's on the initial move and then you just brake straight. You hold your wheel quite straight,"

Verstappen explained.

Rosberg's sarcastic rebuttal

Nico Rosberg, serving as a Sky F1 pundit for the Hungarian GP, offered a starkly different interpretation of the incident.

The former Mercedes driver, known for his rivalry with Hamilton during their time as teammates, sarcastically remarked,

"I'm assuming here that maybe Max hasn't seen it yet on a TV, otherwise, someone needs to tell him that was actually a corner, which is why Lewis was turning in… I mean, Lewis was taking the corner!"

Rosberg's comments highlight the contrasting views on the incident and suggest that Verstappen's frustration may be clouding his judgment.

"Frustration is starting to boil over, which we as spectators quite enjoy watching honestly,"

Rosberg added, noting the change from Red Bull's usual dominance this season.

Stewards' decision and implications

Despite Rosberg's prediction that Verstappen would receive a time penalty, the stewards ultimately decided to take no further action.

This decision allowed Verstappen to retain his fifth-place finish, a result that came after a race filled with strategy frustrations and heated team radio exchanges.