Max Verstappen, the 2021 F1 World champion, believes that he might not continue racing more than 55 laps because his legs were stuck at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull Honda F1’s Max Verstappen won a dramatic driver’s title by overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Yas Marina Circuit.
In an interview with The Guardian, Max Verstappen spoke of the pain in his leg just before the end of the race at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“If you review the data, the throttle input is not very smooth.I was screaming on the radio (following the win), but my legs were over the whole lap,” said Max Verstappen.
“It was completely over.If I had 1 more lap, I wouldn’t have been able to finish the race.The stress level was so high on the final lap that the body might have reacted to it.But I can’t give up.”
Max Verstappen led the race on Turn 5, overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap.
Looking back on the final lap at the F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen explained:
“We need to pull him out.There is only one option.I’m not going to end up in 2nd place.”I really tried it on the restart.Everything was fine until I passed the line and began to feel cramps in my legs.It’s one of the most painful things that happens when you keep running at full throttle for a long time.1”
“It’s like a tennis ball with tight muscles,” he says.Of course, the adrenaline helped.If that happens when you’re walking around, you can’t move.It’s impossible.”
“But there was no choice.I had to do it.So, I kept on full throttle anyway, and my legs were getting hurt more and more.Fortunately, we arrived at turn 5 and were able to make an overtake.I was turning the throttle off for 3 seconds.”
“Then there were 2 very long straights, and in the 2nd straight that Lewis rolled back, I felt my feet vibrating.I mightn’t control it because my muscles were twitching.My legs in the final sector were like this (and I showed a shaking gesture violently).”
The situation with Max Verstappen winning the title dominates the off・season headlines, and F1 race director Michael Masi has been heavily criticised for his handling of the safety car period.
However, Max Verstappen does not believe that the controversy overshadowed the success of 2021.
“It’s not like that at all,” replied Max Verstappen.
“It was a very good season.I think it really deserves the title.I was really unlucky too.People always remember the last race, but if you look at the whole season, the championship should have been decided much earlier.”
Category： F1 / Max Verstappen / Red Bull / Honda F1
