Alex Albon has suggested that Lewis Hamilton was 'squeezing' Max Verstappen before the pair made contact at Turn One during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The two former title rivals were scrapping over the final place on the podium with eight laps remaining when they arrived at the back of Albon's Williams to lap the Thai-British driver.
Sensing an opportunity, Verstappen lunged down the inside of Hamilton's Mercedes, and the pair made contact, sending the Red Bull driver airborne before he crashed back down onto the track.
The incident was placed under investigation by the stewards, who ultimately deemed it a racing incident, despite many criticising Verstappen for making the move as it appeared as though the Dutchman was not going to make the corner without contact from Hamilton.
Offering his view on the crash, Albon said: "They were close to each other, but I didn't realise they'd be that close to each other and didn't realise it would be overtaking close!"
Asked who was to blame, the Williams ace replied: "Both aggressive. Max being aggressive on his move, and then at the same time, I do think there was an element of squeezing.
"But it was all pretty close. I think the call in the end was the right one from the stewards. I think it was a racing incident. I mean, when they're together, when is it not?"
Albon's theory of squeezing gives credence to Verstappen's post-race comments. The Dutchman was unwilling to accept responsibility for his role in the crash, pinning the blame on Hamilton instead.
"I went for a move that was fully on," Verstappen explained to Sky Sports F1. "But then in the middle of the braking zone, when I'm already committed of course to the move, he suddenly just keeps warping right, and if I wouldn't have turned while braking straight, I would have made contact with him."
2024-07-25T13:26:14Z dg43tfdfdgfd