The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix is likely to be remembered for the contentious McLaren incident, but Max Verstappen’s eventful race also caught significant attention. Leading the championship standings, Verstappen had a tumultuous day, marked by aggressive moves, heated radio exchanges, and a dramatic collision with Lewis Hamilton.

The race began with Verstappen executing an aggressive start, pushing Lando Norris off the track, which later required him to relinquish the position. As the race progressed, tensions flared between Verstappen and the Red Bull team, particularly during their radio communications. The frustration culminated in the latter stages of the race, where Verstappen’s relentless pursuit ended with a spectacular collision with Hamilton.

Verstappen did not hide his disappointment with Red Bull’s strategic decisions, which he felt were lacking. “Of course, I’m not happy,” he stated bluntly. He expressed his discontent with the team’s strategy, particularly during the first pit stop, which cost him valuable positions. “On a day when we knew we couldn’t compete with McLaren, we had to get the strategy right. But today wasn’t that day. The first pit stop lost me positions, and that’s not good at all.”

Verstappen further criticized the timing of his second pit stop, which left him stuck in traffic. “They [Red Bull] sent me out right into traffic. When you don’t have the fastest car, you need to optimize strategy. You can’t just rely on a slight speed advantage over Mercedes.”

Despite his realistic outlook on the race, Verstappen was visibly frustrated with the execution. “I’m disappointed because I wanted a better result. I’m realistic; I knew we couldn’t beat the McLarens today. But I think P3 was possible if we had executed better.” The Hungarian GP ended Verstappen’s streak of extending his lead over the second-place driver for four consecutive races. Heading into the Belgian GP, his lead over Lando Norris had narrowed to 76 points.

When asked about his heated radio exchanges, Verstappen dismissed the need for apologies, framing his outbursts as part of the competitive spirit in sports. “I don’t think I need to apologize. We need to do better. I don’t understand why people think we shouldn’t get loud on the radio. This is sport. If someone doesn’t like it, they should stay home.”

Regarding the collision with Hamilton, Verstappen blamed the Mercedes driver for steering to the right within the braking zone. “I was confident in making the overtake. But in the braking zone, when I was sure I’d make it, he suddenly turned right. If I hadn’t steered while braking, the collision would have been much worse. That’s why I was sent airborne.”

Verstappen highlighted the difference between this incident and his previous clash with Norris in Austria. “People criticize the Austria incident, but that was a first move, and you brake straight, holding the wheel straight. This time, it wasn’t the first move; it was a secondary move in the braking zone, turning right. You can’t do that when someone’s inside.” The stewards decided not to penalize anyone for the incident. Hamilton viewed it as a racing incident, downplaying the severity.

The 2024 Hungarian GP proved to be a challenging race for Max Verstappen, marked by strategic blunders and a dramatic collision with a rival. Despite the frustrations and heated exchanges, Verstappen’s passion for the sport and his relentless drive for success were evident throughout the race. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Verstappen and his ability to bounce back from this setback.