Max Verstappen explains how he caught Lewis Hamilton off guard in Hungary. Max Verstappen says Lewis Hamilton was caught off guard in Hungary overtake.

Max Verstappen said he realised Lewis Hamilton was not fully alert before launching the move that allowed him to reclaim third place during the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver capitalised on one of his rival’s rare lapses and used his car’s braking strength to complete a precise overtake, providing one of the most notable moments in the 2026 Hungarian GP.

Lewis Hamilton apologised to the Ferrari pit wall over the radio after losing the position, admitting that he had not expected Max Verstappen to attack. The setback contributed to a frustrating afternoon for Ferrari, which ultimately missed out on the podium after entering the race with expectations of challenging for victory, as Lewis Hamilton later explained in his Hungarian Grand Prix debrief.

Max Verstappen gets his Hungary revenge after the 2024 clash

The move carried echoes of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, although the outcome was very different. During an error-strewn race two years earlier, Max Verstappen attempted to pass Lewis Hamilton on the inside at Turn 1. The Dutchman locked and flat-spotted his tyres before making contact, becoming airborne and subsequently losing a position to Charles Leclerc.

This time, the four-time Formula 1 world champion effectively made amends for that ill-judged attack. Max Verstappen executed a surgical overtake and slowed his Red Bull perfectly, recovering third place after losing the position through an undercut during the opening round of pit stops.

For Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, the pass became another costly episode in a race where several different setbacks combined to leave the team outside the top three. A detailed review of Ferrari’s Hungarian GP mistakes shows how their opportunity to secure a podium gradually slipped away.

Max Verstappen: “It was my only opportunity”

Speaking to Viaplay after the race, Max Verstappen explained that he immediately recognised the opportunity to attack Lewis Hamilton, despite the risk created by movement in the braking zone.

“I realised that Hamilton wasn’t paying attention and I attacked,” Max Verstappen said. “It was a bit like 2024 because he moved under braking, and when that happens it is always risky, but it went well.”

“It was my only opportunity to regain the position and I took it. I knew we were effective under braking. Our problems in general, however, are still a long way from being solved.”