'Drive to Survive' Season 4: Mercedes says Max Verstappen's Silverstone crash was 'right lesson'
One of the key storylines of Netflix's 'Formula One: Drive to Survive' Season 4 was the battle for the championship between heavyweights Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. While Max Verstappen won his maiden World Championship, he had some intense breakneck competition from seven-time World Champ Lewis Hamilton. Episode 3 titled 'Tipping Point' sheds light on the rivalry that came to a crescendo at Silverstone, Great Britain when the English driver's controversial move despite a win saw him garner immense flak.
The drama was intense and was out there for the world to see when Verstappen tried to overtake Hamilton into the high-speed Copse corner. While the latter was able to hold on and emerge unscathed, the Red Bull car and the Dutchman were sent flying into the gravel and slammed into the tire barriers. While Verstappen was rushed to the hospital, Mercedes were handed a ten-second penalty despite which Hamilton raced off to take the chequered flag.
The fly on the wall docuseries provides an in-depth look at the events that unfolded. The Mercedes staff were seen discussing the crash and one of the personnel felt Max (Verstappen) deserved it. "They were side by side, and he didn't give him a room, but Lewis was not there to bail out," Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff was taped saying.
"It's exactly the right lesson for Max to learn," one of the team members was heard remarking. "Because otherwise, everyone else backs out for him," he added. Red Bull's Team Principal Christian Horner, not the one to let go, shot back, "Lewis got exactly what he wanted, maximum points. Caused a lot of damage to his main competitor. It's not a result he can be proud of." Despite the complaints and the noise from both sides, the final decision came from the stewards and all that Hamilton got was a ten-second penalty that he made up for with some staggering racing.
Over the course of the series, the duo would go on to have more back and forth duels, but the F1 2021 season in the end belonged to Verstappen.
'Formula One: Drive to Survive' Season 4 is available for streaming on Netflix.
