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Lewis Hamilton’s Life Saver Termed as “Ugly” by Rival Max Verstappen in Unearthed Interview

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Lewis Hamilton’s Life Saver Termed as “Ugly” by Rival Max Verstappen in Unearthed Interview

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, but one thing they both agree on is that the Halo device in F1 cars today, is not attractive. Hamilton disliked the proposed concept of the Halo when it was first introduced in 2016, whereas Verstappen called it downright “ugly” before driving the cars.

In an interview ahead of the 2018 F1 season, Verstappen was asked about the RB14, and how it was different from the 2017 car. The first thing Verstappen pointed out was that the cars had the new Halo device on them, which was added for the drivers’ safety. Verstappen admitted that he wasn’t looking forward to driving the new cars, because of this new addition which he felt was ugly.

Verstappen wasn’t the only driver to not approve of the Halo being added in the early days. His future rival Lewis Hamilton too, tried to stop the FIA from having the Halo installed on the F1 cars, simply for the aesthetics.

Like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton went public against Halo devices

In the initial proposed design that was shown to drivers and fans in 2016, the Halo device was described as something that would save the drivers from high-speed impacts on the track. Hamilton, however, didn’t appear to be too bothered about safety and instead, went public to show that he disapproves of the design.

On his Instagram account, the seven-time world champion posted a story and wrote

“I appreciate the quest for safety but this is Formula 1, and the way it is now is perfectly fine.”

Hamilton went as far as calling the Halo “the worst-looking mod in F1 history.” 

Halo: The device that saved Hamilton’s life from Verstappen’s aggression

The 2021 F1 season saw a season-long intense battle for the world championship between Verstappen and Hamilton. As the season approached its climax, the two drivers dueled for the lead of the race at the Italian GP in Monza. Verstappen’s aggression, however, led to his car launching in the air because of a sausage kerb.

To everyone’s shock, the car landed on the top of Hamilton’s W12, and the wheels grazed his neck. It was a scary moment, and the whole force of Verstappen’s Red Bull could have landed on Hamilton, had it not been for the Halo on his car.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Formula 1 Editor Somin Bhattacharjee fell for the sport as well as Fernando Alonso on the same day — during the Spaniard’s thrilling victory at the German GP in 2010. Over the years, the passion magnified manyfold, and metamorphosed into a writing career in 2021. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. He has penned over 2,700 articles for TheSportsRush, presenting a diverse range — news reports, opinions, and exclusives. A true Tiffosi, Somin never gives up on a chance to defend the Ferrari boys as a fan. As a sports writer though, he remains objective to the core and relishes opportunities to follow and engage in dissecting the action during races. That’s where the real thrill lies for him. Beyond the racetrack, Somin plays different sports including soccer. He enjoys exploring other sporting events and proudly supports Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

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