Formula 1’s most controversial crashes including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s infamous 2021 clash

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Max Verstappen landed himself in hot water after the Spanish Grand Prix, after his collision with George Russell in the final laps of the race.

A flustered Verstappen appeared to slow down for Russell at Turn 5, before returning to normal speed and banging wheel arches. F1 fans felt Verstappen did the move deliberately, while the Dutchman later apologised for the move, claiming that it “shouldn’t have happened” after the race.

It was another controversial moment to add to the many that have been seen over F1’s 75-year history, so with that in mind, F1 Oversteer has taken a look at some of the most controversial crashes that still get fans talking today.

2021 British Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

The Silverstone capacity crowd were treated to the first piece of controversy between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, when the pair collided on the opening lap of the race.

The prelude to their clash happened the day before when Hamilton lost out to Verstappen in F1’s first Sprint race, which at the time was used to determine the grid for Sunday.

Hamilton started from second place on the grid for the Grand Prix but got a good start and was right on the back of the Dutchman for the opening corners. As they came through Luffield, Hamilton got a run on Verstappen down the National Pit Straight.

Sensing an opportunity, Hamilton went for a move at the high-speed right-hander of Copse. Verstappen didn’t yield and turned into the Mercedes, causing his right rear tyre to shear off the rim and send him ploughing into the barrier at 180mph.

Hamilton would receive a 10-second time penalty but went on to win the race, while Red Bull protested the result and used reserve driver Alex Albon to recreate Hamilton’s trajectory to prove that he was not making the corner during a filming day on Monday. It would ultimately be rejected, but would serve as the starter for the main course of action between this pair in 2021.

2019 Brazilian Grand Prix – Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon

If you think Hamilton and Russell are the only drivers Verstappen has beef with on the grid, he also once had a rather unusual clash with Esteban Ocon.

Leading the Brazilian Grand Prix comfortably, Verstappen was attempting to lap Ocon when the pair clashed on track at Turn 2.

The collision caused Verstappen to lose the race win, with the irate Dutchman going on to confront Ocon in the post-race weigh-in area where he pushed him several times.

The FIA would later issue Verstappen with community service for the incident, the first of which involved him being an observer to stewards in a Formula E race.

2016 Austrian Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg

The 2016 Austrian Grand Prix was a tense affair between the two Mercedes drivers, who were now in their third year of battling for the title.

Nico Rosberg had yet to win a title and was going for his first, but with the Spanish GP clash fresh in their mind, Mercedes wanted to avoid another collision between the pair.

Rosberg was comfortably leading the race when Hamilton found pace at the end and started to reel in the German. As they approached the final lap, Hamilton got a run exiting the first corner up the hill to Turn 3.

Taking to the outside, Hamilton swung his car into the corner while Rosberg continued straight at the apex, causing both to collide. The stewards penalised Rosberg for the crash, while it would be Hamilton who received audible ‘boos’ from the crowd on the podium.

2010 Turkish Grand Prix – Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel had their fair share of tense moments on track, but it was all kick-started with the two colliding while battling for the win in Turkey.

Vettel was attempting to overtake Webber for the lead and as the pair came over the hill at Turn 11, they made contact. Vettel was tipped into a spin while Webber managed to regain control of his car and avoid his teammate.

Webber would go on to finish in third while Vettel was out on the spot, and was seen getting into a recovery vehicle on the driver’s side and speeding away in anger while making his way back to the pits.

1995 Australian Grand Prix – Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill

Michael Schumacher had his fair share of controversial moments on track, but this was by far one of the worst.

In a title showdown at Adelaide in 1995, both drivers only needed to outscore each other to win the championship. Schumacher qualified on pole and led most of the race, before making a mistake and running off track.

That allowed Damon Hill to overtake him briefly, but as the pair reached Turn 6, Hill moved to complete the overtake, and the two collided. This broke the front left suspension wishbone of Hill’s Williams, while Schumacher was out on the spot.

With both retired, Schumacher won the title by default, kickstarting a long feud between the pair that would never be resolved.

1989 and 1990 Japanese Grands Prix – Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost

Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna are one of F1’s most well-known rivalries, but two separate incidents caused it to reach its peak.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Suzuka was often the scene of championship showdowns due to it being the last race on the calendar. In 1989, Senna and Prost both collided while battling for the title at the final chicane, with Senna going on to continue and briefly win.

But after a protest from Prost, then President of the FISA and fellow Frenchman Jean-Marie Balestre, chose to disqualify Senna and effectively hand the title to Prost.

The following year, Senna would get his revenge. Needing only to outscore Prost to win the title, the Brazilian made sure he did by colliding with him at the first corner.

The famous “And it’s happened immediately!” commentary line uttered by Murray Walker conveyed the shock of the moment everyone felt was inevitable, and showed just how bitter their rivalry had become.