Italian GP: Hamilton says he's luck to be alive after Verstappen crash

Italian GP – Hamilton-Verstappen crash: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s Formula 1 title rivalry took a dramatic twist at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday as both crashed out following a massive collision on turn 4 at Monza. Hamilton was “lucky to survive” after Verstappen’s Red Bull bounced over his vehicle during the fateful crash. The Dutchman after the race was handed a three-place grid penalty and was found “predominantly to blame” for the crash.

Also Read: Formula 1 Italian GP: Daniel Ricciardo wins Italian GP, Lando Norris completes McLaren 1-2, Bottas 3rd after Hamilton & Verstappen collide

Italian GP: Lewis Hamilton says he’s lucky to be alive after Verstappen crash; Red Bull-Mercedes continue blame-game

Lewis Hamilton believes he is lucky to be alive after his crash with Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix. Verstappen’s car went over the top of his title rival’s car, with the 36-year-old Hamilton avoiding a serious injury largely thanks to his halo – a protective titanium ring around his helmet after the wheels bumped on his head. After the race, the F1 legend said, “I feel very, very fortunate today. Thank God for the halo. That ultimately saved me. And saved my neck. I don’t think I have ever been hit on the head by a car before and it is quite a shock for me. If you see the image, my head is quite far forward. I have been racing for a long, long time and I am so so grateful I am still here and feel incredibly blessed that someone was watching over me today.”

Above everything, today we are so grateful for the advances in safety of our sport pic.twitter.com/oBgq5DxM91

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021

Italian GP – Hamilton-Verstappen crash: Verstappen and Hamilton entered the Rettifilo chicane together and as Red Bull tried to overtake, it hit the kerbs bouncing right over the Mercedes to take both cars out of the Italian GP. Verstappen’s right rear wheel crashed across the Hamilton roll-hoop and descended onto the world champion’s cockpit. While Hamilton did walk out of his car without much trouble, he is likely to see a specialist next week for a check-up required after a blow to the head.

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Hamilton said, “I will probably need to see a specialist to make sure I’m good for the next race because it is getting tighter and tighter, but I’ll live. But it’s a big shock. I’ve been racing a long time and we are taking risks out there all the time. It’s only when you experience something like that that you get that real shock and you look at life and realise how fragile we are.”

Italian GP – Hamilton-Verstappen crash: Mercedes have accused Red Bull of trying to pull off a “tactical foul” as Red Bull still hold a five-point lead in the standings. Lewis Hamilton meanwhile suggested that Verstappen should have pulled out of the corner when there wasn’t enough space. Max Verstappen was meanwhile not happy with the penalty nor with what had transpired on the track. He said, “He just kept on pushing me wider and wider and at one point there was nowhere to go, he just pushed me onto the sausage kerb. That’s why, at the end of the day, we touched. You need two people to work together to make a corner and we are fighting for position. Unfortunately, we touched. If one guy is not willing to work, what can you do?”

Formula 1