Max Verstappen's former performance engineer, Bradley Scanes, has revealed a critical "power trip" tactic the Dutch driver used to annoy Lewis Hamilton during their intense 2021 title battle. Verstappen, frustrated by Hamilton's lengthy post-session preparations, began intentionally taking his time to fully change his outfit, forcing the seven-time champion to wait for him.### Why it mattersFormula 1 is as much a mental battle as it is a physical and technical one. In the high-stakes 2021 season, where every advantage counted, psychological warfare played a significant role. This subtle tactic highlights Verstappen's determination to unsettle his rival and assert dominance both on and off the track.### The details* The Frustration: Initially, Verstappen was annoyed by Lewis Hamilton's lengthy post-race and post-qualifying routines, which included fully changing out of his race kit and styling his hair before media appearances. Verstappen, by contrast, would usually change only his race suit or attend press conferences as he was.* The Counter-Tactic: According to Scanes, speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Verstappen decided to turn this annoyance into a psychological weapon. He began to deliberately take his time, changing every part of his kit, effectively reversing the waiting game.* The Intent: Scanes described it as a "power trip thing" — a clear message from Verstappen that "We're not waiting for you anymore, the baton has been passed and we're taking over from here."### What's nextThis revelation underscores the depth of the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton, showcasing the lengths drivers go to gain a psychological edge. While seemingly small, such tactics can contribute to the overall mental landscape of a championship fight. Given the outcome of the 2021 season, this particular power play appears to have been a shrewd move by Verstappen.
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