Max Verstappen Endures Difficult Hungarian Grand Prix as Fans Slam Stewards for Controversial Lewis Hamilton Investigation
Max Verstappen recorded his second-lowest finish of the 2025 Formula 1 season during a challenging Hungarian Grand Prix, crossing the line in ninth place after a frustrating weekend for Red Bull Racing. The four-time world champion had arrived at the Hungaroring hoping to celebrate his 200th race with the team on a high note, especially following high praise from McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who had compared Verstappen’s 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix victory to the brilliance of Ayrton Senna.
Despite those lofty expectations, Red Bull faced a weekend full of setbacks. Yuki Tsunoda, who joined the senior Red Bull team this season, suffered yet another early exit in qualifying—his fourth Q1 elimination since making the move. Meanwhile, Verstappen struggled to find pace throughout the weekend, with data revealing a noticeable performance gap between him and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The RB21 simply lacked competitiveness on the tight and technical Hungarian circuit.
In qualifying, Verstappen could only secure eighth on the grid—his worst result of the 2025 season so far—and described the situation as a potential “rude awakening” for Red Bull. Once the race got underway, his fortunes didn’t improve. Verstappen lost a position at the start to Liam Lawson and was unable to mount a meaningful recovery, ultimately finishing in ninth place.
Controversy Erupts Over Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton Battle in Hungary
The race was further overshadowed by a controversial moment on lap 29 involving Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, also having a difficult weekend in his Ferrari, was eliminated in Q2 and started 12th on the grid. He struggled to make progress during the race and eventually finished in the same position.
During their on-track battle, Verstappen made a bold move on Hamilton at Turn 4. As Verstappen attempted to pass, Hamilton ran wide and relinquished the position. While there was no contact between the two drivers, the move was flagged by the stewards, and it was announced that an investigation would take place after the race.
The delayed decision infuriated fans on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Many Formula 1 supporters criticized the stewards, questioning why the move was under review at all. Some fans accused the officials of being inconsistent and dragging out the process unnecessarily. One user claimed that the race officials were acting like “clowns” for being unable to make an immediate call during the race. Others argued that if it had been any driver other than Max Verstappen, the incident would have likely been ignored entirely.
The backlash continued with fans suggesting that the stewards were actively seeking to penalize Verstappen unfairly. Some believed the governing body was trying to “ruin” Verstappen’s race or manipulate the outcome by holding the investigation until after the checkered flag. Several users pointed out that even Lewis Hamilton had not complained about the move over the radio, emphasizing that there was no reason for the scrutiny.
A number of fans dismissed the incident as entirely routine and felt that no penalty should be considered. One frustrated fan went as far as accusing the FIA of “inventing a new penalty” despite no actual contact occurring between the two cars. That sentiment was shared widely among viewers, with many expressing concern about the future of racing if such aggressive yet fair battles continued to face post-race investigations.
Former Red Bull Engineer Criticizes Stewards’ Handling of Verstappen-Hamilton Battle
Former Red Bull engineer Calum Nicholas also voiced his opinion online, expressing dismay at the stewards’ approach. He questioned whether Formula 1 officials were introducing a new kind of penalty—one based on drivers being “scared off the track” rather than actual contact or dangerous behavior. Nicholas urged the FIA to allow drivers to race hard, insisting that all of them are professionals and capable of managing such situations.
Red Bull’s Summer Break Crucial After More Setbacks
With only a ninth-place finish in Hungary, Max Verstappen now trails Oscar Piastri by 97 points in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. Although Verstappen remains mathematically in contention, he has openly admitted that he does not believe he can catch the dominant McLaren drivers unless Red Bull drastically improves performance over the second half of the season.
To make matters worse, Sky Sports F1 analyst Bernie Collins observed tension within the Red Bull garage during free practice sessions. According to Collins, several Red Bull mechanics appeared to be in disagreement over the setup direction for Verstappen’s RB21, underscoring the internal struggles the team is facing.
As Formula 1 enters the summer break, Red Bull Racing faces serious pressure to regroup and resolve their technical issues. For Max Verstappen, who began the season with high hopes, the road to recovery now appears longer and more uncertain than ever.
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