Formula 1’s British Grand Prix was brought to a halt on the opening lap after championship rivals Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton collided into the Copse corner.
Verstappen, who started from pole position, was forced to defend his position during the opening sequence of corners as Hamilton attacked for the lead.
They almost made contact exiting Abbey and then came close once more through Brooklands, having run wheel-to-wheel along the Wellington Straight.
On the run into the high-speed Copse corner, Hamilton moved to the inside to overtake the Red Bull driver.
However, contact was made, which saw Verstappen spin into the gravel before making hard contact with the barrier.
Verstappen gingerly stepped out of his car and was assessed by medical staff at the scene, with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner confirming the Dutchman was “heavily winded”.
The stewards confirmed shortly after the crash that the incident is under investigation.
Several exchanges between Formula 1 Race Director Michael Masi and figures from Red Bull and Mercedes were played out on the world feed, with each blaming the other.
Both sides have been pleading their case, with Horner describing it as “dirty”.
“Completely out of order to stick a wheel up the inside there. Copse is one of the fastest corners in the world, you don’t stick a wheel up the inside, that’s just dirty driving,” he told Channel 4.
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