Following the controversy during last month’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton made some comments about longtime rival Max Verstappen, and it seems like he was right about the Dutchman.
Max Verstappen could have courted even more controversy at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month, according to Lewis Hamilton, and he has already been proven correct.
The race last month was the focal point of a controversy involving Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, teammates at McLaren. When he stopped for new medium tires on lap 45, Norris was in second place.
After that, he overtook teammate Piastri, who stopped two laps later. The McLaren engineers asked Norris to return the position to his teammate, but he refused.
He stated that his continuous fight with Verstappen for the F1 championship was the reason he felt that way. Eventually, he gave in, and Hungary saw the McLaren one-two.
When questioned about the incident prior to the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton asserted that Verstappen, his fierce rival, would have simply refused to back down. “It’s not my call to make,” he stated. Really, he wouldn’t have allowed him to pass if that had been Max. I am at a loss for words. I have no say in the matter.
“Even though it’s difficult, I would follow the team’s instructions if I were in that circumstance. In the end, since it isn’t about you. It has to do with the 2,000 individuals you are collaborating and representing.
Paradoxically, Verstappen has already been involved in a similar incident. At the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver disregarded team orders in order to allow Sergio Perez to pass.
Earlier in the race, the two had switched positions to give Verstappen the chance to pass Fernando Alonso. But Red Bull was unable to, so they asked for a switchback.
“Max, please let Checo pass,” his race engineer pleaded. Verstappen was questioned by the engineer at the end of the race about his decision to defy orders. “I told you guys already last summer, don’t ask that to me again,” he retorted. Alright? Do we have that clear? I provided justifications, and I still do.”
Verstappen’s actions at the time infuriated Perez, especially since the Mexican was still chasing second in the drivers’ championship. For the campaign, Verstappen had already won the title of champion.
Over the team radio, Perez said, “Thank you for that guys, thank you,” and then, “This shows who [Verstappen] really is.”
Perez finished third after two wins in 2022, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc eventually defeated him. He followed that with a runners-up position last term, but after a terrible run of luck recently, he is currently ranked seventh.
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