According to Sky F1 analyst Anthony Davidson, Max Verstappen was primarily at fault for the collision with Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, Davidson also pointed out that Hamilton exploited a “grey area” in the braking zone, which compromised Verstappen’s ability to avoid the incident.

Davidson explained that Hamilton used a tactic to make Verstappen’s overtaking attempt more challenging in the braking zone, thereby making Verstappen’s maneuver uncomfortable. Verstappen tried to overtake Hamilton for P3 at the Hungaroring but ended up locking up and hitting Hamilton’s car, causing Verstappen’s vehicle to briefly become airborne.

After the race, Hamilton claimed the final podium spot, while Verstappen finished in 5th. The stewards investigated the incident post-race but decided not to impose any penalties. Hamilton considered it a racing incident, whereas Verstappen blamed Hamilton. Davidson noted that Hamilton exploited a similar “grey area” as Verstappen did in Austria, where Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for a collision with Lando Norris.

Davidson elaborated that Hamilton’s slightly early turn-in at the corner caught Verstappen off guard. Hamilton’s movement back to the racing line after overtaking a Williams, combined with the early turn-in, made it difficult for Verstappen to adjust. This difficulty contributed to Verstappen’s lock-up and subsequent loss of control.

Davidson remarked that Hamilton’s defensive maneuver contributed to the collision by making it harder for Verstappen to brake effectively, leading to the lock-up that caused the incident. Nonetheless, Davidson also acknowledged that Hamilton’s actions created a situation that compromised Verstappen’s ability to handle the car.

The Hungarian GP saw Lando Norris finish in second place, trimming Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 76 points as the series headed into the summer break and the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix.