‘Thank God he has walked away’: Max Verstappen crashes on lap one of the British Grand Prix

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen has crashed out of the British Grand Prix on the opening lap.

The championship leader was defending his position from the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton as they went wheel-to-wheel into one of the fastest corners on the circuit, called Copse. 

Hamilton’s front-left wheel collided with the rear-right of Verstappen’s Red Bull, sending the Dutch driver flying into the barriers and resulting in a red-flag stopping the race. 

Both teams protested their innocence to the race director and the stewards, but Hamilton was ultimately deemed at fault and the Briton was handed a 10-second penalty.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said over the radio to the race director Michael Masi that he believed the Mercedes driver was at fault. 

“That corner, he [Hamilton] was never anywhere near alongside. Every driver who has driven this circuit knows you do not stick a wheel up inside at Copse,” he said.

“As far as I’m concerned, full blame lays on Hamilton.

“You could’ve had a massive accident. Thank God he has walked away unscathed.”

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Hamilton and his team were on the radio saying they believed the Red Bull driver was the reason for the crash.

“I was ahead going in there, man,” Hamilton said over the team radio.

“He turned in on me.”