Red Bull Insider Reveals Max Verstappen’s Clever Mind Trick Against Lewis Hamilton in 2021

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head for the 2021 F1 world title. This championship battle is regarded as one of the best in the sport’s history as the two had several on-track clashes. Now, Verstappen’s former performance coach Bradley Scanes recalled the one time when the Dutchman decided to play mind games with Hamilton.

Formula 1 has a history of mind games on the grid. Over the years, title contenders often try to gain an advantage mentally. Such tricks were notorious during Lewis Hamilton‘s battles with Nico Rosberg at Mercedes. It seems that the Briton got a taste of his own medicine in 2021.

During the Brazilian GP that year, Max Verstappen made his way to Hamilton’s car in Parc Ferme after Qualifying, and touched the rear wing of the car. The Red Bull driver was handed a €50,000 or $58,000 fine for this act.

Bradley Scanes claimed that Verstappen knew he would be fined for touching Hamilton’s rear wing. He claimed that the Dutch driver was playing mind games on his rival by giving the rear wing a good feel. Moreover, Max Verstappen knew that there would be no on-track consequences for committing such an act. Additionally, Scanes even revealed that the reigning world champion had discussed doing this with Red Bull before the session.

Brazil is a good example [of the mind games] 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. Not [with] me personally, but in the team it was discussed.

Bradley Scanes said on High Performance podcast

Though, Lewis Hamilton managed to pull off an impressive drive in the race and take victory from Verstappen.

Max Verstappen’s trick forced Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to make changes

At first, it seemed that Verstappen’s trick did not have any impact as Hamilton simply dominated the Interlagos race the next day. However, Scanes asserted that the act did more harm to Mercedes than the Silver Arrows might’ve imagined, let alone the impact mentally on Hamilton and his crew.