Max Verstappen’s collision at Silverstone during the 2021 British Grand Prix, instigated by Lewis Hamilton in their contest for the lead, emerged as a pivotal incident in that season’s championship battle.
Mercedes has expressed their regret regarding their response to Max Verstappen’s significant crash at Silverstone in 2021.
This incident became one of the most notable and contentious events in the fierce title competition of that season. During the first lap at Copse, while vying for the lead, Verstappen found himself on the outside of Hamilton when his Red Bull was struck, resulting in a high-speed spin off the track.
A Dutch driver crashed into the barrier with a staggering 51G impact and was taken to the hospital for precautionary measures, but fortunately, he suffered no lasting injuries. Hamilton was found to be mainly responsible for the incident and received a time penalty for causing the crash, yet he still managed to win the race.
Christian Horner and the Red Bull team were extremely upset and sought a review, which was ultimately denied. Following this, Mercedes released a straightforward statement accusing their competitors of “a coordinated effort to damage the reputation and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton.”
The Silver Arrows faced criticism following the incident for seemingly neglecting Verstappen’s well-being while he was hospitalized. In light of this situation, the team’s communications chief, Bradley Lord, acknowledged that they should not have relied solely on the statements of a Red Bull staff member regarding the Dutch driver’s health.
“Reflecting on our regrets, I believe we should not have accepted the word of a Red Bull team member at face value, which led us to underestimate Max’s condition after his crash at Silverstone in 2021,” he stated in an interview with Planet F1.
The manner in which we were perceived to manage the aftermath significantly contributed to the deterioration of that relationship during that season. We could have approached the situation differently, demonstrating a greater concern for Max’s wellbeing at that time, irrespective of our opinions regarding the incident and its moral implications.
Additionally, there was the unintended consequence of straining the relationship, particularly with the fan bases, in a rather severe manner. This moment stands out as pivotal. If given the opportunity to revisit that time, I believe we would alter our responses and actions from that afternoon.
That event was just one of many that Lord has faced in his career so far, which he refers to as a “big adrenaline moment.” These moments are filled with intense emotions, making it challenging to handle the situation. However, he feels thankful that he has yet to encounter the kind of scenario that everyone in F1 fears the most.
He expressed, “I’ve been incredibly lucky in my career not to be part of a team that has had to deal with the most serious situations in F1, such as a severe injury or a fatality. Knock on wood, I sincerely hope I never have to experience that.”
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