Lewis Hamilton earned himself his third podium of the season - his 200th in F1 - in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, but the Mercedes driver admitted to enduring a tough race marked by a “hair-raising” moment with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The pair collided in the closing stages of the race when Verstappen attempted an audacious lunge down the inside of his rival at Turn 1, only for the Dutchman to lock up and have his left rear wheel clip the Mercedes’ front right.
The Red Bull was launched into the air and left the track but was able to continue to finish fifth while Hamilton also survived the contact to make his way to a hard-earned third place.
However, the incident was put under review by the Stewards to assess each driver’s responsibilities.
"Ultimately, we didn't have the pace of the McLarens, or did we have the pace of the Red Bulls," Hamilton said after the race.
"But we were just able to hold on at the beginning of the race. It was very tough to hold on and make those tyres last.
"And obviously the close battle we had at the end was a bit hair-raising. But that's motor racing. I'm really happy and grateful for the points. Big thank you for the team."
In parc fermé, Hamilton was asked by his former Mercedes team mate if his battle with Verstappen which unfolded over two stages had been “nerve-racking”.
"It's not nerve-racking,” he responded.
"I think it when you see the pace at which they closed the gap in certain corners, you just laugh to yourself because it's not something that I can do.
"Particularly the last sector they were very strong – same as the McLarens. I mean, I saw him coming from a long way back and he was able to brake a lot later than me.
"But, he sent it up the inside, I stayed still and he clipped the wheel and went over. So, I think a racing incident. But, you know, yeah…"
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