British Formula One star Lewis Hamilton was inches from tragedy at the Italian Grand Prix after title rival Max Verstappen’s car flew over his head after they took each other out of the race.
Red Bull’s Verstappen flipped up beside Hamilton as the pair battled for position, the rear of Verstappen’s car landing on Hamilton’s Mercedes, the halo head protection device possibly saving the seven-time champion from injury.
The halo literally saved Lewis Hamilton's life today pic.twitter.com/tRxWNCRhzX
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) September 12, 2021The Briton was almost certainly saved from serious injury by the Halo safety device, a titanium bar placed above the driver’s head that has been mandatory in Formula One since 2018.
The Red Bull went nose-first into the gravel with both drivers emerging from the carnage unscathed in the latest dramatic twist in an increasingly heated world championship duel.
Another hugely dramatic moment in the Verstappen/Hamilton title battle #ItalianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/P4J4bN6wX2
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 12, 2021The two drivers both accused the other of being in the wrong after the race, with Hamilton saying Verstappen ‘knew what was going to happen, but he still did it.’
Verstappen responded by saying he had ‘nowhere to go’ and blamed Hamilton for not giving him the room he needed to make the corner.
The two drivers must await an investigation by race stewards after the race to determine whether they will be penalised