Mercedes admit ‘regret’ over Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton controversy
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Verstappen was left in hospital after a crash with his then-title rival at Silverstone in 2021. Mercedes have expressed their regret over their handling of the Silverstone crash which left Max Verstappen in hospital. The incident on the first lap of the British Grand Prix in 2021 was a flashpoint in that season’s bitter title race and resulted with Verstappen’s Red Bull clipping rival Lewis Hamilton at Copse, before spinning off the track at high speed.
The Dutch driver hit the barrier with huge force and, although able to climb out of the car following the 51G impact, was taken to hospital in a helicopter as a precaution. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner later revealed his driver had been briefly knocked out, while Hamilton served a time penalty after being deemed at fault for the collision, though still went on to win the race.
An incensed Horner and Red Bull requested a right of review which was dismissed, and their request was countered with a brusque Mercedes statement which accused their rivals of “a concerted attempt to tarnish the good name and sporting integrity of Lewis Hamilton”.
The victory did little to calm tensions between Mercedes and Red Bull. Both Horner and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko were angered by what they perceived as a lack of concern from Mercedes as the team, with Hamilton, celebrated freely. Tensions have eased between the two teams in the ensuing three and a half years, but Mercedes’ chief communications officer and team representative Bradley Lord has revealed how the team’s reaction was, regrettably, shaped according to feedback from a Red Bull staff member.
