A Bold Move at the Hungarian GP
At the Hungaroring, Max Verstappen made a daring overtake on Lewis Hamilton at Turn 4 on lap 29. Hamilton was seen running off the track to avoid contact, and although no physical collision occurred, the incident drew immediate attention from the race stewards (sportbible.com).
The stewards later cleared Verstappen of wrongdoing, stating that he did not force Hamilton off the track and that the evasive maneuver came from Hamilton himself (skysports.com).
Red Bull’s Social Media Spark
Even before the stewards’ verdict, Red Bull Racing posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Lap 30: Max scares Lewis off the road at Turn 4 and is up to P11!”
The post prompted immediate backlash from fans and media alike (sportbible.com).
Reaction: Fans in Total Disbelief
Supporters of Hamilton erupted online, slamming the post as tone-deaf and disrespectful—especially given the potential safety implications. Reactions ranged from outright shock to calls for accountability:
- “Tweet of the year”
- “Wait, that make you proud? Cause ain’t no way”
- “Scared or trying not to get hit? Lol” (sportbible.com)
Many saw Red Bull’s post as an unnecessary celebration of a risky moment rather than a proud sporting achievement.
What the Drivers Said
Max Verstappen
Expressed frustration over the post-race investigation, calling it “difficult to understand” since there was no contact between him and Hamilton. He emphasized that he had sufficient control and would have given more room if needed (reuters.com, skysports.com).
Lewis Hamilton
Refrained from attending the hearing in person. Over the race weekend, he admitted to being deeply unhappy—with himself, qualifying out of Q2, and finishing 12th, outside the points for the first time in his career at Hungary. Hamilton described himself as “useless” and even suggested Ferrari might consider replacing him (talksport.com).
Former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defended Hamilton’s mindset, calling him emotionally honest and reaffirming his status as the “GOAT” with unfinished business in Formula 1 (reuters.com).
Behind the Scenes: A Struggling Weekend
Both Red Bull and Ferrari had underwhelming weekends. Verstappen qualified P8 and finished P9, reporting car handling issues and comparing the car to “driving on ice” (vg.no, gpfans.com).
Meanwhile, Ferrari celebrated Charles Leclerc’s surprise pole position, while Hamilton’s form came under harsh scrutiny with zero podiums in his 14 races since joining the team (thetimes.co.uk).
Closing Thoughts
Red Bull’s bold social media post came off as tone-deaf, overshadowing an already difficult weekend for both teams. Verstappen slipped further from championship contention, and Hamilton now faces intense pressure at one of his historically strongest circuits.
Both drivers, once fierce rivals, now appear more vulnerable than ever as the Formula 1 season heads into its summer break.
Leave a Reply