Lewis Hamilton Apologises to Ferrari After Verstappen Overtake as Hidden Team Radio Reveals Hungarian GP Moment

Previously unseen team radio from the Hungarian Grand Prix has revealed a candid moment involving Lewis Hamilton, who admitted he was unable to prevent Max Verstappen’s impressive overtaking move and later apologised to Ferrari after losing the position.

Hamilton endured a difficult afternoon in Budapest, finishing fifth in the race while Verstappen secured second place behind winner Lando Norris of McLaren. The result added to a frustrating weekend for Hamilton, who had been hoping for a stronger performance but ultimately struggled to match the pace of the leading drivers.

The newly released radio communication gives fans a closer look at Hamilton’s reaction during the battle and shows the seven-time world champion acknowledging that he had been caught off guard by Verstappen’s aggressive but calculated move.

Verstappen Takes Advantage at the Start

The opening lap immediately created tension between Hamilton, Verstappen, and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen made an excellent start and managed to overtake both Ferrari cars, moving ahead of Hamilton and Leclerc before settling into the race. Hamilton, however, found an opportunity during the first round of pit stops.

Ferrari brought Hamilton into the pits on Lap 13, executing an undercut strategy that allowed him to gain track position. By switching to fresh tyres earlier, Hamilton attempted to put pressure on Verstappen and regain the place he had lost at the beginning of the race.

Red Bull responded by calling Verstappen into the pits one lap later. When the Dutch driver returned to the track, he emerged just behind Hamilton, creating an intense battle between two of Formula 1’s biggest stars.

Initially, Hamilton appeared to have completed the strategic move successfully. Team radio from Lap 15 showed a positive exchange between Hamilton and Ferrari race engineer Carlo Santi.

Hamilton praised his team’s work, saying:

“Great job, guys.”

Santi responded:

“Good job, Lewis.”

The Ferrari driver then asked whether the team had adjusted his front wing during the pit stop, suggesting he was focused on understanding the car’s performance after the tyre change.

At that moment, Hamilton appeared confident that he had gained the advantage.

However, Verstappen had other plans.

Verstappen’s Late-Braking Attack Changes the Battle

Only one lap later, Verstappen launched a dramatic attack into Turn 1.

Using his Red Bull’s braking ability and positioning himself perfectly, Verstappen went deep into the corner and forced his way past Hamilton. The move was aggressive but controlled, allowing him to reclaim the position after briefly falling behind due to Ferrari’s undercut strategy.

The newly revealed radio messages show Hamilton’s immediate reaction.

After Verstappen completed the overtake, Hamilton admitted:

“Ah, I couldn’t see him coming, guys.”

The comment suggested that Hamilton had not expected Verstappen to attempt such a move at that moment and was surprised by how quickly the Red Bull driver closed the gap.

After following Verstappen for several laps, Hamilton began analysing the strengths and weaknesses of his rival’s car.

On Lap 19, he told Ferrari:

“He’s got no power in the straights.”

Despite noticing that Verstappen appeared vulnerable on the straights, Hamilton was unable to recover the position during the remainder of the race.

One lap later, Hamilton accepted responsibility for losing the place and apologised to his team.

“Sorry to lose that position, man,” he told Ferrari.

The message highlighted Hamilton’s disappointment but also his willingness to acknowledge when an opponent had produced the stronger move.

Verstappen Complains After Hamilton’s Defensive Move

While Hamilton’s radio messages showed his frustration after losing the position, Verstappen also had his own complaints during the battle.

During the televised broadcast, Verstappen could be heard questioning Hamilton’s defensive tactics while making his overtaking attempt.

The Red Bull driver believed Hamilton had moved under braking while trying to defend the position.

Before the overtake, Verstappen had expressed frustration after Ferrari’s strategy put Hamilton ahead.

His exchange with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase went as follows:

Verstappen said:

“Yeah, what’s the point of this? Why not stay out? My God…”

Lambiase responded positively:

“Well, that was quite special!”

Verstappen then commented on Hamilton’s defensive move:

“I don’t want to complain, but that was again moving under braking. I mean, it’s nice action but it’s not right.”

The disagreement reflected the intensity of the fight between the two experienced drivers, who have developed one of Formula 1’s most famous rivalries over recent seasons.

Wheel-to-Wheel Fighting Earlier in the Race

The battle between Hamilton and Verstappen was not limited to the Turn 1 overtake.

The pair had already made contact earlier in the race while fighting for position.

On the opening lap, Verstappen and Hamilton touched wheels at Turn 3 as they battled for track position. Verstappen immediately asked his team to check whether his tyres had been damaged.

“Check my tyre,” Verstappen said.

Lambiase reassured him:

“All OK, Max.”

Later, Hamilton attempted to fight back by going around the outside of Verstappen at the long right-hand Turn 5. The two cars once again made slight contact, showing just how closely matched the battle was.

Despite the aggressive racing, neither driver suffered major damage, allowing them to continue fighting throughout the race.

Verstappen Explains His Overtaking Move

After the race, Verstappen explained that the opportunity to pass Hamilton was one he could not ignore.

Speaking during the post-race press conference, he said:

“I saw the opportunity as my only one and I just went for it.”

The Red Bull driver credited his braking performance for making the move possible.

“We were good on the brakes so that helped, but it was all under control,” he added.

For Verstappen, the move represented a crucial moment in the race because it allowed him to recover the position lost through Ferrari’s strategy.

Hamilton, meanwhile, chose not to discuss the incident when questioned by media after the race.

The Hungarian Grand Prix ultimately highlighted the continued competitiveness between two generations of Formula 1 champions. While Norris claimed victory and McLaren celebrated another strong performance, the battle between Hamilton and Verstappen once again provided one of the race’s most memorable moments.

The hidden radio messages offered fans a rare insight into the mindset of both drivers — showing Hamilton’s professionalism in accepting defeat in battle, and Verstappen’s determination to seize every opportunity on track.