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Mercedes chief communications officer Bradly Lord has conceded the team could have handled the fallout from the 2021 British Grand Prix “in a different way” after Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s massive first lap crash.
Mercedes chief communications officer Bradley Lord expressed regret for the team’s handling of Max Verstappen’s crash aftermath at the 2021 British Grand Prix, acknowledging the tense and controversial season that followed. The collision between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton led to a period of animosity between the two drivers, with the incident at Silverstone being the most severe. Mercedes’ reliance on Red Bull’s assessment of Verstappen’s condition was seen as a misstep in their public relations approach. Despite receiving a 10-second penalty, Hamilton won the race, sparking further tensions between the teams and fans. The fallout and subsequent actions by both teams contributed to a toxic atmosphere during the season. Red Bull’s unsuccessful appeal for a harsher penalty for Hamilton further fueled the rivalry between the teams. Mercedes’ statement following the appeal emphasized their stance on the situation, but Lord now reflects on how the situation could have been handled differently.
