Remember when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided in Silverstone? Yes, the infamous 2021 British Grand Prix. Verstappen had to retire early in the race as he experienced a 51G crash at the Copses. Despite facing a 5-second penalty for the collision, Hamilton went on to win the race. Post-race scenarios were difficult; critics slammed Hamilton for ‘reckless’ driving, while doctors rushed Verstappen to emergency for dizziness and a possible concussion.

Now, revealing inside details about the aftermath of the incident, Verstappen has surprised everyone. This was somewhat expected, given the magnitude of his crash. However, Max Verstappen’s confession was unexpected, and it makes one wonder: how is he still managing in F1, and that too almost perfectly? Verstappen is known for his strong conviction and focused mind, and maybe, these qualities have brought him so far despite the adversities.

Max Verstappen reveals the impact of his three years old 51G crash

Following the Silverstone crash, Verstappen moaned and groaned on the team radio. However, he got out of the cockpit and had to be sent off to the medical center for precautionary checkups. Moreover, he recovered in no time and was once again back in action, showing no signs of ill effects. He even won his first championship that season! But now, the Dutchman revealed that he suffered physical repercussions of the incident. “Since my Silverstone crash, I’ve struggled with visibility problems, especially on undulating circuits or those with lots of advertising boards on the side of the track,” the 3x champ disclosed.

He continued: “In this race [referring to COTA 2021], I wasn’t just fighting against Lewis, but also against blurred images” while further explaining what it felt like racing in Austin after his crash: “It was like driving a speedboat at 300 km/h!”

It seems he was truly struggling. Max added: “I’ve never said this before, but it was so bad for a few laps that I seriously considered turning the car off. The only thing that helped was to concentrate on my breathing with Lewis breathing down my neck. An important win that I desperately needed in the championship fight.” Despite his strange health condition, Verstappen went on to win the 2021 Austin GP. Commendable indeed, but this raises a few questions.

Wasn’t Max Verstappen being ‘reckless’ by racing in his condition? But since he passed all the health tests he was good to go. Some fans have pointed out on social media that Max’s health problems could put himself and others in danger. “It is also an infringement of regulations if he didn’t report this problem to the Chief Medical Officer ‘without delay’.” Moreover, this infringement is punishable, another fan noted. So, what led to Verstappen’s strange ailment?

Verstappen v/s Hamilton and the battle for the 2021 Austin GP

The Austin GP which commenced just after 7 days of the British GP, witnessed Max Verstappen’s force on the track. Once again, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were face-to-face. A fierce battle continued between the two contenders in the wild west of Austin, Texas. COTA was always Mercedes’ domain, however, Max turned the tables. 2021 Austin GP passed through several tricky corners. The advantage switched hands several times throughout the race. While Hamilton battled it out for the top spot, Verstappen successfully capitalized on Red Bull’s pole position. The then-21-year-old Max was able to remain in Hamilton’s DRS zone.

However, pitting Max on lap 10 felt like a rush on Red Bull‘s part. But after all, it was a strategic move. Verstappen’s pace advantage with the new tires and Sergio Perez’s position helped them to win two podiums that day. While Max finished P1, Perez secured P3, and despite leading the race, Lewis Hamilton had to settle for P2. Not bad, though, for a champion, P2 isn’t enough, is it?

This brings back Verstappen’s recent revelation. How did he manage to display his skills even when he was having problems with vision? It was indeed very risky, but ultimately his struggles bore results! Max Verstappen’s iron-strong resolution and his zeal to give his best and more, show his winner mindset. Fighting all odds, he has reached the pinnacle of F1. Since 2021, Verstappen has been the sole king on all tracks, so, so you think his domination is unprecedented? Share your take in the comments.