After a collision with Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix, British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton complained of a sore throat and was happy to introduce a halo protection system that protected him from worse injuries. According to the head of the Mercedes stable, it was a “tactical foul” of a Dutch driver.
The reigning world champion resigned after a collision in the 26th round with a Dutch rival who, after mutual contact, landed from above with his Red Bull monopost on his Mercedes. Hamilton also paused that the opponent was not convinced after the collision that he was in good health.
“To be honest, it still hurts a little. Plus, I still have adrenaline pounding, so when it fades, it still comes to mind. But I feel very happy. Thank God for the halo system. I think it saved my life, saved my neck. It was a big blow, but the only thing I thought about even after the accident was whether I could continue the race, “Hamilton told Motorsport.com.
While Red Bull team boss Christian Horner called the collision a racing incident, his Mercedes opponent Toto Wolff likened Verstappen’s actions to a tactical foul in football. Both riders are vying for the lead in the championship standings.
“Max knew that if Lewis stayed ahead of him, he would have a certain victory,” Wolf speculates.
Former Formula 1 driver Damon Hill has a similar view. “I was looking at repetitive shots and it was basically impossible for Max to make it in the first corner. I hate to blame any of this, but my conclusion is that he probably ran through his head” I have to knock him out “,” Hil told Sky F1.
The Dutch driver was then punished by the commissioner for losing three places at the start of the next race in Russia.
The FIA also wants to deal with the accident again, because according to the race director Michael Masi, it was unusual and it occurred at a relatively low speed. “Our security department will look at this in detail, investigate and see how we can learn and what we can improve in the future,” Masi said. Experts now collect all available data and footage.
“I didn’t expect Max to lose control of the car after entering the curb and crash into me. When I look back at the footage, it happened very quickly. But I was still in racing mode, and even though I was sitting there in mild pain, he said. “I’m going, we’re going on. But the car didn’t want to move,” said Hamilton, who continues to lose five points to the championship leader Verstappen.
In addition, it was the second mutual duel of aspirants for the title, which ended in a mutual collision. But while Verstappen criticized his juice after the accident in Britain for celebrating his subsequent victory, without taking into account that he ended up in hospital, he now made no secret of his surprise at his rival’s reaction to Hamilton again.
“I saw Max get out and just walk by. I was a little surprised, because I think when we fly off the track and something happens to us, we want to make sure in the first place if the one we came across is in But the important thing is that I got out and we can continue to fight, “added the British rider.
Russia’s next Grand Prix will take place on September 26.
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