P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen ‘collected DELIBERATE fine’ in infamous Hamilton 2021 incident
A former close ally of Max Verstappen has suggested that the Dutch driver may have intentionally received a fine in his intense 2021 championship battle with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s impressive recovery from disqualification in qualifying to win the Brazilian Grand Prix showcased Mercedes’ late-season speed. Verstappen’s former trainer hinted that touching Hamilton’s rear wing in Brazil was a strategic move to unsettle Hamilton and the Mercedes team without significant consequences. Despite the mind games, Verstappen ultimately secured the 2021 championship in a dramatic final race, solidifying his status as a fierce competitor in Formula 1. The Verstappen-Hamilton rivalry will be remembered as one of the most intense in F1 history, marked by clashes, exchanged words, and a nail-biting season finale.
