KEY POINTS

  • Lewis Hamilton insists he is too experienced to think that he made a mistake on his collision with Max Verstappen
  • Verstappen feels disrespected by the way Hamilton and Mercedes celebrated their win at the British Grand Prix
  • As per FIA, the unfortunate clash was the seven-time world champion’s fault

Lewis Hamilton is keeping his stance on the controversial collision with Max Versatappen ahead of Hungarian Grand Prix.

Despite being punished with a 10-second penalty at Silverstone, Hamilton insisted that he had done nothing wrong in the Copse corner clash with Verstappen that sent the Red Bull driver at high speed into the barriers.

"In terms of the move [on Verstappen], I would do the move as I did it last," the seven-time world champion told reporters, including ESPN. “In terms of how I've reviewed it and analyzed from all my experience over the years, which speaks for a lot. I wouldn't change it."

Nevertheless, Hamilton went on to win the British Grand Prix and edged closer to Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.

Red Bull, on the other hand, didn’t appreciate Mercedes’ post-race celebrations and fumed over the Brit’s “hollow victory.”

For Verstappen, the insensitivity that Hamilton and Mercedes showed after the race was “really disrespectful.”

"To me disrespectful is when one guy is in hospital and the other one is waving the flag around like nothing has happened when you pushed a guy into the wall with 51G[-forces]," Verstappen stated. "And not only that, just the whole reaction of the team besides that. I think that's not how you celebrate a win, especially a win how they got it. That's what I found really disrespectful.”

"Anyway it shows how they really are,” he continued. “It comes out after a pressured situation, but I wouldn't want to be seen like that."

Defiant: Max Verstappen addresses a press conference at the Hungaroring on Thursday
Defiant: Max Verstappen addresses a press conference at the Hungaroring on Thursday POOL / FLORION GOGA

It is really hard to determine who’s to blame in the pair’s terrible clash.

However, the FIA explained in a document that it was Hamilton who should’ve done better, given he had more room to avoid the incident.

Hence, it was also the reason behind the sanction, Motorsport.com reported.

"The Stewards reviewed video and telemetry evidence," the stewards said. "Cars 33 [Verstappen] and 44 [Hamilton] entered turn 9 with Car 33 in the lead and Car 44 slightly behind and on the inside.”

"Car 44 was on a line that did not reach the apex of the corner, with room available to the inside. When Car 33 turned into the corner, Car 44 did not avoid contact and the left front of Car 44 contacted the right rear of Car 33. Car 44 is judged predominantly at fault."