Red Bull reveals ‘massive eye opener’ after horror crash that left Verstappen hospitalised

Red Bull has reflected on the seismic Max Verstappen crash with Lewis Hamilton during the 2021 British Grand Prix, which left the team facing a startling reality.

The opening lap at Silverstone saw Verstappen’s race come to an end when the pair collided at Copse corner, sending the Dutchman into the barrier at high speed.

It resulted in a trip to a local hospital for the four-time champion, who revealed earlier this year he still is feeling the effects of the crash.

Ed Hemsworth, who at the time worked as a race parts and lifting controller, stated the incident was “the worst crash anyone here had ever seen”. 

“When you’re sweeping up parts of the car that our driver sat in, there’s the realisation that we’re not just messing around with toys here,” he added, speaking to motorsport.com. 

“This isn’t a game where you can press the reset button, this is people’s lives – and it was a massive eye-opener.” 

Hamilton went on to win the race, his seventh on home soil. Verstappen took issue with the celebrations that were conducted as he was assessed at hospital.

“Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behaviour but we move on,” he said at the time on social media.