Why it matters: New revelations from Max 베르스타펜's former performance coach, Bradley 스케인즈, confirm that 베르스타펜 intentionally touched 루이스 해밀턴's 메르세데스 rear wing at the 2021 Brazilian Grand Prix. This calculated move, despite a known €50,000 fine, was designed to exert "pressure" on 레드불's rivals during the heated F1 title battle.
The big picture: The 2021 season was an intense rivalry between 베르스타펜 and 해밀턴, culminating in 베르스타펜's controversial maiden World Championship win in 아부다비. Weeks prior, 해밀턴 delivered a stunning comeback victory in 브라질 after being disqualified from qualifying due to a rear-wing infringement, then recovering from a grid penalty.
The details:
- After qualifying in 브라질, 베르스타펜 was seen touching 해밀턴's rear wing in parc ferme, an action for which he was later fined €50,000 by the FIA.
- 스케인즈, 베르스타펜's performance coach from 2019 to 2023, revealed on the "High Performance" podcast that the act was premeditated and discussed within the 레드불 team.
- "He knew he was going to get a €50k fine and no impact on track," 스케인즈 stated, emphasizing the strategic nature of the move.
- 메르세데스 clarified that 해밀턴's rear-wing issue was due to a broken component, not an intentional rule breach.
- 스케인즈 argued that the fine was "helpful" as it forced 메르세데스 to alter their wing setup for subsequent races, shifting focus and intensifying media pressure.
- The rivalry extended beyond the track, with "mind games" played by both 레드불 and 메르세데스 team principals (토토 볼프 and 크리스티안 호너) and even trainers.
Between the lines: 스케인즈 described the palpable tension in the 2021 paddock, especially in the final races. "Nobody would even look at each other, nobody would talk to each other," he recounted, likening the atmosphere to "war." He highlighted the extraordinary level of competition, with both drivers often 20 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.