David Coulthard says Max Verstappen should leave a message for Lewis Hamilton on his rear wing

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Lewis Hamilton lost out in his latest tussle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Verstappen and Hamilton both gained a place at the start of the race, climbing to third and fourth respectively. There was even contact between the two as the Dutchman defended on the inside of turn three.

Hamilton couldn’t clear Verstappen in the opening stint and then wasted a successful Ferrari undercut by losing concentration, which allowed his long-time rival to lunge back ahead at turn one. From there, the Red Bull looked faster, and they eventually finished around five seconds apart.

‘Performance advantage’ wasn’t enough for Lewis Hamilton to pass Max Verstappen

Duels between Hamilton and Verstappen have largely been a rarity since their epic 2021 title battle. The Briton has often lacked the form and the machinery required to compete.

But his resurgence this year, combined with Ferrari’s improvement, has reignited the rivalry. They have already thrilled fans with wheel-to-wheel scraps in Canada, Austria and Great Britain.

Hamilton had won two of those battles, but Verstappen hit back here with a combination of specialist defensive driving and a brilliant opportunist move.

“He’s sizing him up, isn’t he?” David Coulthard said in commentary for F1TV as Hamilton attacked Verstappen on lap three. “He knows he’s got the performance advantage.

• READ MORE: Max Verstappen immediately knew Ferrari strategy would cost Lewis Hamilton at Hungarian Grand Prix

“On the back of Verstappen’s car, on the rear wing, it may as well say ‘approach with caution’.”

Verstappen accused Hamilton of moving under braking when he slipped past at the first corner, but there was no investigation from the stewards. The two drivers previously collided at the very same turn in 2024.

Verstappen was mystified as to how he finished second, having spent much of the weekend complaining about his ‘undrivable’ Red Bull car. Hamilton and Ferrari, meanwhile, were left to rue their poor execution after displaying race-winning speed on Friday and Saturday.