During the 2021 season, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fought tooth and nail at every race track.
One of the weirdest races in their duels was the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which saw them both experience a tough run of luck completely independent from each other.
During the race, Verstappen was in control for most of it, though at the end of lap 45, his tire failed and exploded, resulting in a collision with the surrounding barriers.
The Dutch driver was knocked out of the race, leaving Hamilton with the perfect opportunity to one-up his rival.
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
Upon the race restarting, the seven-time champion was fighting with Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, for the lead into the first corner.
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Unfortunately for Hamilton, he ended up locking up his tires and went straight into the run-off road.
The lock-up was due to Hamilton pressing the “brake magic” button on the steering wheel, which shifted the brake balance and led to the front brakes becoming harder.
“An unfortunate day, a humbling experience and I’m so sorry for the team,” he said at the time,” Hamilton told reporters after the race.
“When Checo came towards me after the restart, I turned the wheel and accidentally flicked a switch which shifts the brake balance and that caused me to lock up. It’s one of the toughest moments I’ve had; one moment we had all the points and the next we had none.”
Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff defended Hamilton after the error, citing it as an “accident” rather than a “mistake.”
“We don’t talk of a mistake at the restart; Lewis accidentally touched the button that brings the brake balance all the way forward,” Wolff said.
“It was simply a finger problem. He and I have four hours on the plane tonight, and maybe we’ll drink. He doesn’t make many mistakes, that’s what you need to remember.”
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This race result ended up setting the tone for the rest of the season, which was filled with thrills up until the very end.
The 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is just one chapter in the story of the season, but it marked a critical juncture in one of the most exciting F1 seasons.
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