F1 fans were captivated by the back-and-forth battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton four years ago, and now an insider has offered fresh insight into their backstage behaviour
Max Verstappen’s former physio has shed light on the mind games between him and Lewis Hamilton during their epic 2021 duel. Verstappen and Hamilton fought tooth and nail during one of the most thrilling F1 seasons of all time.
The championship went right down to the wire, with the Dutchman ultimately emerging the victor on the final lap of the final race under highly controversial circumstances to claim his maiden title. Fine margins had never been more important, and the man overseeing them for Verstappen was Bradley Scanes.
His role went far beyond the usual scope of a fitness coach, ensuring every part of the Red Bull star’s routine was fine-tuned – and finding ways to gain an edge over Hamilton. Scanes offered a fascinating insight into some examples of those dark arts tactics, admitting one high-profile incident was predetermined and shedding light on another behind-the-scenes example that he let fans into the secret of.
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Speaking to Jake Humphrey on the High Performance Podcast, he admitted: « Absolutely [there were mind games]. Brazil was a good example where Max went behind the Mercedes rear wing and was giving it a good feel. That was measured – he knew he was going to get a 50k fine and no impact on track. Within the team it was discussed [beforehand].
« Even if nothing happened, and I think there was a change, for the last two races they couldn’t run that particular wing, which was helpful because they (Mercedes) ran away with that Brazil race, but even if nothing happened, that would’ve just shifted the focus, put a bit of pressure in the media on them.
« Obviously, the mind games between them, Toto [Wolff] and Christian [Horner], were always clear to see in the media. But then backstage, cool down rooms after, between Max and Lewis. Even Angela [Cullen] would kind of try and have a little go as well.
« One of the funniest things is just [the] time it would take to get ready. Top three would always go into a cool-down room after a race or after qualifying, and Lewis would always take a long time to get ready. He would want to change fully out of his kit, get his hair done, put his own clothes on.
« Whereas Max would just change his suit or just go as he is to a press conference. As it progressed, we started to change every part of the kit. And as it progressed again, you could just see Max just taking his time. We started changing the full kit [so we weren’t hanging around waiting for Lewis]. Also just to fill the time as well.
« But the flip was, you could start to see Max really starting to take his time, so that then Lewis had to wait for him. It’s that whole get out after half-time and stand by the… »
Humphrey interjected: « Like a power trip thing? » To which Scanes replied: « Yeah, exactly that. Just to say, ‘Actually, we’re not waiting for you anymore. The baton has been passed and we’re taking over from here.' »
The countless high-profile clashes between Verstappen and Hamilton throughout 2021, and the most dramatic of conclusions to their title tussle, had a seismic impact on the sport that’s still being felt. While the former has gone on to claim his second, third and fourth championships in the years since, the latter never returned to the same level of performance.
He’s had a far from dream start at Ferrari, who hope he can end their near two-decade-long wait for a title while also securing his own record-breaking eighth triumph. That’s not going to happen this year, regardless of how they return after the summer break at the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.
Verstappen too is having to come to terms with the fact that McLaren have one hand on both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships, be it through Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris. But both will hope next year’s regulation changes mean they return to fighting it out for the top prize, although Verstappen won’t have Scanes in his corner this time after they parted ways in 2023, while Hamilton has reunited with trusted ally Cullen at Ferrari.
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