FIA's decision on Hamilton-Verstappen collision at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix: Why no action was taken

3 months ago 62

The 2024 edition of the Hungarian Grand Prix left many fans and drivers alike with a flurry of nerve-wracking moments
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton had a collision in what appeared to be a repeat of an incident from the 2021 Italian Grand Prix
Legit.ng shines a spotlight on the reason why the sports governing body, the FIA, took no further action on the lap 63 incident involving the duo

The 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix was laced with a flurry of frenetic moments right from the first lap to the 70th and final lap.

The Round 13 race, which marked the commencement of the second half of the longest season in the sport's history, treated fans, drivers, and even the pit crews to a flurry of heated and pulsating moments.

While McLaren Racing and their drivers had numerous issues to sort out regarding team orders, other teams, including uncharacteristically Red Bull Racing and Aston Martin, had a flurry of questions about their strategy at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at Hungary

Amidst the dramatic events, one moment stood out: the collision between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

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On lap 63, as Hamilton and Verstappen fought for third place, Verstappen attempted to overtake Hamilton under braking for Turn 1. Hamilton moved to defend the corner, and Verstappen, locking up, overshot and made contact with Hamilton’s front right wheel.

The impact sent Verstappen’s RB20 airborne, and he skidded into the runoff area before regaining control and rejoining the race.

Echoing the infamous 2021 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the incident sparked considerable debate among fans and experts. Many wondered how the stewards would rule on what ultimately cost Verstappen a podium finish.

To the surprise of many, the FIA race stewards decided not to take further action after reviewing the incident.

Why the FIA took no further action on Verstappen and Hamilton's collision

According to a statement from the sport's governing body, the collision was deemed more of a "racing incident" rather than a deliberate act of contact.

The FIA stewards explained:

“As both Car 44 [Hamilton] and Car 1 [Verstappen] approached Turn 1, they overtook Car 23 [Alex Albon]. Car 44 then returned to the racing line before the braking zone and began to turn into Turn 1. Car 1, aided by DRS, approached the turn faster than on previous laps and braked at the same point as before.“The driver of Car 1 contended that Car 44 was changing direction under braking, while the driver of Car 44 maintained that he was following his normal racing line, as confirmed by video and telemetry evidence from previous laps.“It was evident that Car 1 locked up both front wheels on the approach to Turn 1 before any impact occurred, deviating from the usual line for a typical overtaking manoeuvre.“Although Car 44's driver considered this to be a racing incident, Car 1's driver argued that it involved changing direction under braking.“The Stewards do not view this as a clear case of ‘changing direction under braking.’ However, we have determined that Car 44’s driver could have taken additional measures to avoid the collision.“Therefore, no driver is deemed predominantly at fault, and no further action will be taken.”

What does this mean for Formula 1?

Both drivers have been outspoken about the incident that occurred between them on track.

Verstappen views Hamilton's manoeuvre as a deliberate move under braking, while Hamilton sees it as a simple racing incident.

In his post-race interview, Verstappen explained:

"I positioned my car initially and kept it straight. However, under braking, he kept moving right, which caused me to lock up as I was going for the overtaking move. I saw the car on the outside coming at me. Otherwise, we would have crashed earlier. I had to brake hard, which is why I locked up."

The stewards did not support Verstappen’s criticism of Hamilton’s driving. After reviewing video footage, timing, and telemetry data, they concluded that the seven-time champion had acted within the rules.

This decision raises questions about the consistency of the stewards' judgments.

The event at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix witnessed Verstappen receiving a 10-second penalty for making contact with Lando Norris while battling for the lead, despite the consensus among all 20 drivers, including Norris, that it was a racing incident.

Similarly, at the Monaco Grand Prix, Kevin Magnussen’s first-lap collision with Sergio Perez was deemed a racing incident, despite the clear and evident nature of the incident.

For fairness and to avoid controversies in our 'beloved' sport, the FIA needs to improve consistency in its judgments, regardless of the drivers involved. Until then, decisions on penalties will continue to seem like a game of chance, influenced by luck and the stewards' interpretation of the incidents.