[imagesource: Twitter / @F1]

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been rivals on the track for a number of seasons, with emotions occasionally boiling over.

However, following yesterday’s crash at the British Grand Prix, the gloves are finally off.

The rivalry has stepped up a notch after a crash at the end of the first lap at Silverstone, on Copse corner, with the Dutchman smashing into the tyre wall at speeds in excess of 280 kilometres per hour.

Red Bull immediately pointed the finger of blame towards Hamilton, whereas the Mercedes driver and his team say Verstappen turned in on Hamilton.

Let’s start with footage of the crash:

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s crash! #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/gonVIosYwt

— F1 Sports (@F1Sportss) July 18, 2021

This clip gives you an idea of the speeds we are dealing with:

TW: Hamilton and verstappen crash at copse #BritishGP #f1 glad he’s okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Hu0LA9gSQP

— keith phillips (@nobbyphillips) July 18, 2021

You can watch official footage of the crash below:

Verstappen and Hamilton collide!

The title rivals come together at Copse, pitching Verstappen into a high-speed crash.

The Dutchman was able to walk away but he has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks#BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ol1s9dRJoa

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2021

As soon as the dust had settled, fans of the rival drivers went at it.

Here’s one of the most talked-about clips on social media:

Max Verstappen fans will complain and Call Lewis Hamilton all the names they can think of but NONE of them want to show this Footage.
Max was Clearly on the wrong but they’re not ready for this Conversation #BritishGP #SilverstoneGP pic.twitter.com/0NlFhgjx2j

— El Presidente👑 💙 (@ItsKingWanga) July 18, 2021

The team principals coming at this from very different angles:

One controversial moment at Silverstone 💥

Two opinions #BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 @redbullracing @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/O1VPbFKzXB

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2021

Ultimately, Hamilton won the British Grand Prix, passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with just three laps to go:

And Hamilton takes the lead! #BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/KxqCqVQM1Y

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 18, 2021

A look at the driver standings, before we get the reactions from the two men involved:

Image: Twitter / @F1

After the win, Hamilton took to social media to send his best wishes to Verstappen:

Today is a reminder of the dangers in this sport. I send my best wishes to Max who is an incredible competitor. I’m glad to hear he is ok. I will always race hard but always fairly. My team showed grit and perseverance out there. It’s a dream to win in front of my home crowd💜🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/3S16uFYmDZ

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 18, 2021

However, Verstappen wasn’t having it, calling scenes of Hamilton celebrating the win on his home track “disrespectful and unsportsmanlike”

Glad I’m ok. Very disappointed with being taken out like this. The penalty given does not help us and doesn’t do justice to the dangerous move Lewis made on track. Watching the celebrations while still in hospital is disrespectful and unsportsmanlike behavior but we move on pic.twitter.com/iCrgyYWYkm

— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 18, 2021

That’s about as clear a message as you can send these days.

There is no love lost between the two, and shots have been fired.

Officially, via The Telegraph, motorsport governing body the FIA gave this ruling:

“The Stewards reviewed video and telemetry evidence. Cars 33 [Verstappen] and 44 [Hamilton] entered turn 9 with Car 33 in the lead and Car 44 slightly behind and on the inside.

“Car 44 was on a line that did not reach the apex of the corner, with room available to the inside.

“When Car 33 turned into the corner, Car 44 did not avoid contact and the left front of Car 44 contacted the right rear of Car 33. Car 44 is judged predominantly at fault.”

Because he was judged to be “predominantly at fault” Hamilton was given a 10-second penalty.

Battling back to win from there, both in terms of the time penalty and the mental toll of being involved in a crash that early in the race, really was another example of his skills behind the wheel.

Sadly, much like the three English players who failed with their penalties during the Euro 2020 final, it was basically a given that Hamilton would be subjected to racial abuse on social media.

Sky News reports:

In the hours after the race, racial slurs and monkey emojis appeared on the Mercedes team’s celebratory Instagram post.

Formula One, the FIA and Mercedes released a joint statement “condemning this behaviour in the strongest possible terms”.

“During, and after, yesterday’s British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was subjected to multiple instances of racist abuse on social media following an in-race collision,” they wrote.

“These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.”

‘Strongest possible terms’ and ‘no place in our sport’ – the same old lines, again and again.

Until social media companies take a harder stance, it’s just rinse and repeat.

[sources:telegraph&sky]