The 2021 F1 season was the gateway for Max Verstappen to join the elite list of racers. Although he had been with Red Bull since his early days, the young Dutchman searched for his maiden world title. Thus, when it was time for the penultimate race, Verstappen jumped over every adversary to clinch his first title.
Despite Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes being unhappy with the decision, Verstappen was elated as the Red Bull Racing team finally defeated the dominant Silver Arrows. Since then, the Red Bull maestro has showcased some emphatic racing skills, adding two more world titles to his tally. However, he recently recalled an unfortunate incident from the 2021 Silverstone GP that affected his visibility.
Verstappen Describes Crash Injuries: ‘Felt Like Driving a Speedboat at 300 km/h’
The 2024 Silverstone GP was like a dream run for the Mercedes, as starlet Lewis Hamilton finally won after a 945-day drought. The Mercedes ace locked horns with Red Bull’s sensation, and it was a treat for the fans. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time two champion racers went head-on against each other. Their rivalry started in 2021, during the season finale race. While the season is remembered for Verstappen’s first driver’s title, Lewis Hamilton was phenomenal but had to settle for the second spot. However, during the 2021 Silverstone GP, an unfortunate crash almost ended Verstappen’s career. The two had a contact on a high-speed Copse Corner, which sent the Dutchman crashing into the tyre barrier. Moreover, Verstappen tried to block Hamilton’s ambitious dive bomb and brushed the tail on the Briton’s rear end. Later, it was disclosed he experienced a 51g impact, which was incredibly intense.
After two years, Verstappen revealed that he was not just battling Hamilton for the top spot but also his blurry vision. After the crash, Vhe was rushed to the hospital, and he returned safely with minimal injuries. However, the after-effects were much more intense as he was unable to drive on the undulating tracks with the higher number of ad boards. During an interaction with Red Bulletin Magazine, the triple champion claimed he felt like driving a speedboat at a 300km/h speed. Moreover, the vision was so bad that he considered turning off the car in the middle of his lap. It all unfolded during the COTA race, where Verstappen needed to secure victory to stay in contention for the world title. Despite Hamilton closely trailing throughout the race, Verstappen attributed his composure to deep breathing techniques.
Max Verstappen Praises Hamilton After British GP Victory In Front Of ‘Home Crowd’
Having won the 2021 Silverstone GP after colliding with Verstappen, Hamilton never imagined that this track would once again deliver a crucial victory for him. The 945-day wait was over as the seven-time world champion won his ninth British GP title.
However, the reigning world champion and Hamilton’s fierce rival Verstappen congratulated him on a memorable victory. He further emphasized the importance of winning in front of the home crowd. Moreover, he claimed the Briton was faster than everyone else on the tricky, wet Silverstone track.