Max Verstappen quizzed on mystery injury after British GP paddock images emerge

Michelle Foster 09 Jul 2023 9:00 AM

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen with a bandage on his right hand. Britain July 2023

Sporting a bandage on his right hand, Max Verstappen has downplayed what he called a “finger” and “hand” injury.

Verstappen跑的领先地位British Grand Prix on Saturday, the reigning World Champion crossing the line a tenth of a second faster than the McLaren of Lando Norris.

However, while speaking to the media in the post-qualifying press conference it was noted that the Dutchman’s right hand had a bandage on it.

Asked about that, Verstappen didn’t give any details as to how the injury happened other than to say he had injured his hand and finger.

“Yeah, it looks a bit interesting, right? But yeah, it’s just a hand injury,” he said to media including PlanetF1.com.

“Yeah, that’s why I said it looks quite interesting, right?

“But yeah, I injured my finger – it’s not making it better – injured my finger and my hand at the same time but it’s fine when I’m driving it’s okay.”

The championship leader, holding an 81-point advantage over his team-mate Sergio Perez, will line up on pole position at Silverstone ahead of Norris and Oscar Piastri with the Ferrari team-mates next in line.

PlanetF1.com建议

Ranked: The 10 best F1 driver pairings of the 21st century

F1 points all-time rankings: Where do Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso feature?

His P1 marks the Dutchman’s first pole position at the Northamptonshire track with Red Bull chasing their first British Grand Prix since 2012.

Asked by Sky Sports who he believes will be his biggest threat on Sunday, Verstappen said: “I don’t know.”

“I don’t mind, as long as they just keep shuffling around, they just keep stealing points from each other, so that’s great.”

Verstappen isn’t the only driver on the grid carrying an injury with pundits noting Alex Albon had a bloodied back after qualifying.

“It’s all the downforce we have, it just sometimes confuses you,” he explained.

“It’s disgusting, if I show you my back, I’ve got lumps and bumps everywhere. I think because I’m tall, and to get into the car, to get positioned properly, I’m basically quite rounded in my shoulders and my bones stick out.

“Seriously, through corners like Maggotts and Becketts, it sounds disgusting, but I can feel my skin ripping as I go through the corner.”