The official presentation of the Red Bull RB18, which will be unveiled on Thursday 9 February at 5.00 pm, will be the first concrete step towards the gradual return to the track of Max Verstappen, who will play the unprecedented role of reigning world champion. A title that the Dutchman won in extremis in the memorable Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, last round of the 2021 season. In that case, the 24-year-old was able to overtake his direct rival Lewis Hamilton during the very last lap, crossing the finish line first and at the same time climbing to the top of the world. Yet, precisely in the course of those excited sporting moments, the very high competitive tension also had repercussions on the physical of the former number 33.
Interviewed by The Guardian, Mad Max in fact, he recounted what happened in that circumstance which, for a while, did not play a bad joke on the one who would become champion shortly thereafter: “At the restart I tried to stay close to Lewis – he said – but when I crossed the line to start the last lap I started to hear a leg cramp. It is one of the most painful things that can happen, not least because you press down on the accelerator for a long time. Feel the muscle tighten and become like a tennis ball. Of course, adrenaline helps because if it happens while you’re just walking, you can’t move. But there was no choice, I had to do it. So I was holding the throttle to full throttle and felt my leg hurt more and more. Fortunately, the fifth corner arrived and I went to overtake. I had about three seconds off the accelerator. And then – he added – there are two very long straights and on the second where Lewis came back towards me I could feel my foot vibrate. I couldn’t control it because the muscle was having a spasm. If you analyze the data you don’t see very smooth throttle input. Another lap and I couldn’t have finished the race like that. The stress levels were so high that your body probably reacts to all of this, but you can’t give up. “
#Crampo #Verstappen #resisted #lap #FormulaPassionit