“Struggling to stay in full throttle”: Max Verstappen talks about ‘cramp’ which nearly cost him his 2021 World Championship win

The 2021 season will live long in the memory of F1 fans all over because it treated us with one of the best Championship fights of all time. Max Verstappen went toe to toe with 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton in a colossal tussle that went down to the wire.

It wasn’t possible to separate Hamilton and Verstappen across 20 races, and they went into the season finale level on points. The finale was in Abu Dhabi, one of the most controversial races ever.  Hamilton dominated the majority of the race and was on course to win his eighth Title before a safety car fiasco followed by race director Michael Masi’s questionable decision-making took it away from him.

Red Bull’s Verstappen got a golden opportunity to overtake his rival on the final lap and take home his first Title win. However, during that infamous final lap, Verstappen suffered a cramp that almost took his moment of glory away from him.

Also read: Nico Rosberg believes it was ‘easy’ for Max Verstappen to beat Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen got a cramp in the middle of the main straight

Verstappen was presented with a golden opportunity to pass Hamilton when the safety car shenanigans allowed him to be on fresher softer tires than Hamilton. He took the most of that opportunity and comfortably overtook the Mercedes driver.

In an interview with Sky Sports F1, the Dutchman revealed how he just about managed to keep himself together despite suffering a painful cramp. It hit him when he was on the main straight, and he struggled to keep the throttle full for most of his last lap heroics.

“In the middle of this straight, I get a cramp in my leg, my calf,” the 25-year-old stated. “I’m struggling to stay in full throttle.”

did you know: max verstappen had a cramp on the last lap of abu dhabi 2021 pic.twitter.com/2UrrQdwFha

— F1 To Rule Them All (@F1RulesMedia) November 30, 2022

He went on to say that he was struggling to maintain top speed, but just about held it together to pass Hamilton on the final lap. Verstappen withstanding the pain ultimately bore fruit for him, as he stood on the top step of the podium, claiming his maiden Championship win.

After a grueling fight in 2021, Verstappen cruised towards his second Championship win in 2022, winning 15 races in the process.

Also read: “He has the fighting mentality just like Michael Schumacher”: Nico Rosberg hails Max Verstappen among top 5 drivers of all time