Perhaps they were unduly influenced by Horner's melodramatic outburst. It could of course have had far more serious consequences for Verstappen but it was as much his choice as Hamilton's and the outcome of such incidents is unpredictable. He knew Hamilton was there and almost certainly presumed he would defer as he has before - assuming that was even possible from there, Hamilton missed the apex so was probably struggling to turn in. Another interpretation is that he had been hoping to run Verstappen out of road on the exit, another favourite Verstappen tactic.
Neither was for compromising.
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