“It actually broke Max’s seat”– Red Bull reveals how strong was Max Verstappen’s 51G crash during the British Grand Prix.
Red Bull’s superstar had a scary British Grand Prix when a collision with Lewis Hamilton forced him to crash into the barriers at the fastest turn on the circuit.
The gravel next to the track considerable lowered Verstappen’s car speed, but it still produced a massive force, and according to Christian Horner’s recent blog on Red Bull’s website reveals, it broke Verstappen’s car seat.
“That was the biggest accident Max has had in his racing career,” he wrote in his latest Red Bull blog, “and the first, and hopefully last time he’s hospitalised.
“When Max was unable to respond on the team radio, time stood still. At that moment, you forget everything else apart from the driver’s safety, a person who is like family to all of us, and it reminds you of the risk and reward in our sport.
“When he was finally able to speak, the relief was enormous and then to see him helped out of the car by the medical team, albeit somewhat dazed and in need of support, was an incredible feeling.”
“A huge amount of credit must go to the safety standards of these cars, the Halo and the barrier systems because the impact was such that it actually broke Max’s seat,” he continued.
A prompt reaction by the medical team
Horner then told about the medical staff’s efficiency, as Verstappen was first taken to a medical centre before being transferred to a hospital as the Dutchman complained about dizziness.
“The car could have quite easily flipped over, which was an initial concern voiced by the first responding medical team, but fortunately, it didn’t.
“Due to the size of the impact, which was measured with a g-force of 51G, the medical staff needed to ensure there were no internal injuries or neurological concerns such as concussion.
“Having completed the preliminary checks at the Silverstone Medical Centre, it was decided that Max should be helicoptered to Coventry Hospital for a CT and MRI scan to ensure there was nothing nasty going on internally or neurologically. The FIA stated that effect, as did we so that everyone was aware of the situation.
“Max was monitored closely and later released from the hospital at around 22:00 and was able to travel home the following day. I spoke to him again on Monday morning, and he felt like he’d done a few rounds with Tyson Fury.
“He was battered and bruised but feeling lucky and grateful to the medical team, as we all are, and in true Max style he was already trying to put it out of his mind and look ahead to Hungary.”
